Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Montgomery
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Montgomery
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.2%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (7.2%)
Homes cost $27k less ($141,900 vs $168,800)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.1 vs 594.6 per 100k
Montgomery
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$1,717
$54,166 vs $52,449/yr
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$27k less
$141,900 vs $168,800
Montgomery
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Montgomery wins 16. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Montgomery, AL are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.