Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
New Orleans
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ 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 New Orleans
Homes cost $113k less ($168,800 vs $281,500)
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 8.4%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$1,333
$52,449 vs $51,116/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
81% lower
272.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$113k less
$168,800 vs $281,500
New Orleans
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
New Orleans
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and New Orleans 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and New Orleans, LA are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.