Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Huntington Beach
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $808k less ($168,800 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1116/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,318)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $62,298/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,298 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$808k less
$168,800 vs $976,800
Allentown
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$62,298
$114,747 vs $52,449/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
24% lower
207.3 vs 272.1 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Huntington Beach wins 15. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $976,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 2,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.