Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Households earn $2,716 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Rent averages $220/mo less ($982 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Allentown by $2,716/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$2,716
$52,449 vs $49,733/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
81% lower
272.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Allentown
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$11k less
$157,800 vs $168,800
Milwaukee
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 26.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $157,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Milwaukee, WI are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.