Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Fullerton
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $622k less ($168,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,989)
40% less violent crime than Fullerton
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $46,830/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.9%)
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,830 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
40% lower
272.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$622k less
$168,800 vs $791,000
Fullerton
Median Income
$46,830
$99,279 vs $52,449/yr
Fullerton
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Fullerton wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allentown to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $791,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Fullerton, CA are about 2,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.