Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($168,800 vs $391,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Provo by $5,494/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.4%)
24% less violent crime than Allentown
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,494 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$223k less
$168,800 vs $391,500
Provo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Median Income
$5,494
$57,943 vs $52,449/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
24% lower
206.6 vs 272.1 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 54 ✓ 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 (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $391,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Provo, UT are about 1,889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.