Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Ontario
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($168,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $25,621/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,621 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Allentown
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$344k less
$168,800 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$25,621
$78,070 vs $52,449/yr
Ontario
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Ontario, CA are about 2,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.