Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 13 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($168,800 vs $194,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 31°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Cons
Median income trails Kenosha by $12,514/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $12,514 more per year on average
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
5% lower
272.1 vs 285.7 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$26k less
$168,800 vs $194,400
Kenosha
Median Income
$12,514
$64,963 vs $52,449/yr
Kenosha
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Kenosha wins 13. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $194,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Kenosha, WI are about 655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.