Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($168,800 vs $411,700)
34% less violent crime than Gresham
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,452)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $16,988/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $16,988 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
34% lower
272.1 vs 410.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$243k less
$168,800 vs $411,700
Allentown
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Median Income
$16,988
$69,437 vs $52,449/yr
Gresham
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Gresham wins 11. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $411,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Gresham, OR are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.