Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $66k less ($168,800 vs $234,900)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lafayette
Median income trails Lafayette by $6,401/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.1%)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,202)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Households earn $6,401 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
74% lower
272.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$66k less
$168,800 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$6,401
$58,850 vs $52,449/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Lafayette 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $234,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.