Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($168,800 vs $304,700)
19% less violent crime than Manchester
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,362)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $21,591/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $21,591 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 86°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
19% lower
272.1 vs 336.0 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$136k less
$168,800 vs $304,700
Allentown
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$21,591
$74,040 vs $52,449/yr
Manchester
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 48.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Manchester wins 11. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $304,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Manchester, NH are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.