Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 21 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
McAllen
Texas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails McAllen by $3,877/yr
McAllen, TX
Pros
45% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($955 vs $1,202)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$3,877
$56,326 vs $52,449/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
45% lower
150.0 vs 272.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$10k less
$158,700 vs $168,800
McAllen
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 21 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 2 and McAllen wins 21. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and McAllen, TX are about 1,638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.