Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($168,800 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $49,316/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Hoover
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $49,316 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$197k less
$168,800 vs $366,200
Hoover
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$49,316
$101,765 vs $52,449/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
71% lower
78.0 vs 272.1 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and Hoover wins 17. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $366,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Hoover, AL are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.