Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $857k less ($168,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1547/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,749)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $70,499/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,499 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Allentown
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/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
$857k less
$168,800 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$70,499
$122,948 vs $52,449/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
69% lower
84.0 vs 272.1 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Irvine, CA are about 2,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.