Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($168,800 vs $327,700)
44% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $21,317/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $21,317 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
44% lower
272.1 vs 482.7 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$159k less
$168,800 vs $327,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Mesa
Median Income
$21,317
$73,766 vs $52,449/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Mesa wins 15. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $327,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Mesa, AZ are about 2,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.