Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($168,800 vs $494,100)
65% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $463/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $30,337/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,337 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
65% lower
272.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$325k less
$168,800 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$30,337
$82,786 vs $52,449/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Lakewood 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $494,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Lakewood, CO are about 1,559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.