Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 19 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($168,800 vs $289,400)
23% less violent crime than Nampa
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $14,897/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.0%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $14,897 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 21.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
23% lower
272.1 vs 353.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$121k less
$168,800 vs $289,400
Nampa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$14,897
$67,346 vs $52,449/yr
Nampa
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 21.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 19 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 4 and Nampa 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 Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $289,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Nampa, ID are about 2,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.