Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($168,800 vs $362,800)
49% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,466)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $20,559/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $20,559 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$194k less
$168,800 vs $362,800
Lowell
Median Income
$20,559
$73,008 vs $52,449/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 14 and Lowell wins 9. 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $362,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Lowell, MA are about 257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.