Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($168,800 vs $290,800)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,426)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $33,378/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Households earn $33,378 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.8%)
43% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$122k less
$168,800 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$33,378
$85,827 vs $52,449/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
43% lower
156.4 vs 272.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 5 and New Braunfels wins 18. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $290,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.