Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont 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 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($168,800 vs $488,100)
42% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,689)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $37,271/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,271 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
42% lower
272.1 vs 469.3 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$319k less
$168,800 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$37,271
$89,720 vs $52,449/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ 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) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Longmont 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $488,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Longmont, CO are about 1,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.