Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($168,800 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,548)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $40,847/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $40,847 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (2.7%)
46% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$257k less
$168,800 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$40,847
$93,296 vs $52,449/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.8 vs 272.1 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 4 and Meridian wins 19. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $425,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Meridian, ID are about 2,087 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.