Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $45k less ($168,800 vs $213,300)
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.6%)
Median income trails Portsmouth by $4,705/yr
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $4,705 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.1 vs 752.4 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$45k less
$168,800 vs $213,300
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Income
$4,705
$57,154 vs $52,449/yr
Portsmouth
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Portsmouth wins 14. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Portsmouth, VA are about 262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.