Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 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
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($168,800 vs $299,700)
34% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,583)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.9%)
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $3,622/yr
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.9%)
Households earn $3,622 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
34% lower
272.1 vs 414.6 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$131k less
$168,800 vs $299,700
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$3,622
$56,071 vs $52,449/yr
Miami Gardens
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $56,071 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 82.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $299,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.