Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $823k less ($168,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $800/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,002)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $28,770/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 8.1%)
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,770 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (8.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
5% lower
272.1 vs 287.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$823k less
$168,800 vs $992,000
Glendale
Median Income
$28,770
$81,219 vs $52,449/yr
Glendale
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Glendale 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $992,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Glendale, CA are about 2,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.