Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($168,800 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,901)
19% less violent crime than Quincy
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $38,219/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.7%)
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $38,219 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
19% lower
272.1 vs 335.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$394k less
$168,800 vs $563,200
Allentown
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$38,219
$90,668 vs $52,449/yr
Quincy
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 12 and Quincy 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $563,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Quincy, MA are about 259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.