Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Hialeah, FL
🏆 Hialeah leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Hialeah
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($168,800 vs $324,300)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,458)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $2,918 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.7%)
Hialeah, FL
Pros
52% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Income
$2,918
$52,449 vs $49,531/yr
Allentown
Median Home Value
$156k less
$168,800 vs $324,300
Hialeah
Violent Crime
52% lower
129.6 vs 272.1 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Hialeah, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $324,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,458⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $49,531 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 74.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 62.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 222,996 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 45.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 20.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Hialeah's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Hialeah wins 14. 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 Hialeah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $324,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $49,531), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Hialeah, FL are about 1,054 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.