Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $7,738/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,738 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.1 vs 427.2 per 100k
Allentown
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$7,738
$60,187 vs $52,449/yr
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Pittsburgh wins 15. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.