Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas 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
Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($168,800 vs $365,300)
37% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,356)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Cons
Median income trails Las Vegas by $13,907/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.4%)
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Households earn $13,907 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.1 vs 429.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$197k less
$168,800 vs $365,300
Las Vegas
Median Income
$13,907
$66,356 vs $52,449/yr
Las Vegas
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $365,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Las Vegas, NV are about 2,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.