Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($168,800 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $44,858/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,858 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$227k less
$168,800 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Median Income
$44,858
$97,307 vs $52,449/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
33% lower
182.2 vs 272.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Goodyear wins 16. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $396,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Goodyear, AZ are about 2,083 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.