Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Joliet
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($168,800 vs $233,800)
22% less violent crime than Joliet
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 31°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $32,522/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $32,522 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$65k less
$168,800 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$32,522
$84,971 vs $52,449/yr
Joliet
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Joliet wins 14. 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 Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Joliet, IL are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.