Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($168,800 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $706/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $56,819/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.2%)
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $56,819 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Allentown
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$225k less
$168,800 vs $393,700
Germantown
Median Income
$56,819
$109,268 vs $52,449/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 46.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 32.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Germantown wins 12. 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $393,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Germantown, MD are about 136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.