Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock 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
Little Rock
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $37k less ($168,800 vs $205,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Little Rock by $6,248/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,202)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,248 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
84% lower
272.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$37k less
$168,800 vs $205,800
Little Rock
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$6,248
$58,697 vs $52,449/yr
Little Rock
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $58,697 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and Little Rock 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $205,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.