Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Hillsboro 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 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($168,800 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,797)
14% less violent crime than Hillsboro
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $46,442/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.6%)
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $46,442 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/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
14% lower
272.1 vs 317.7 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$284k less
$168,800 vs $452,300
Allentown
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$46,442
$98,891 vs $52,449/yr
Hillsboro
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Hillsboro, 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 | $452,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hillsboro leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $452,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Hillsboro, OR are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.