Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 22 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($168,800 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,423)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $24,237/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $24,237 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$91k less
$168,800 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$24,237
$76,686 vs $52,449/yr
Irving
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Irving 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $259,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Irving, TX are about 1,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.