Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Lincoln
Nebraska
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($168,800 vs $230,400)
22% less violent crime than Lincoln
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $15,397/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $15,397 more per year on average
Rent averages $204/mo less ($998 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$62k less
$168,800 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$15,397
$67,846 vs $52,449/yr
Lincoln
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and Lincoln wins 17. 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $230,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.