Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh 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
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($168,800 vs $347,000)
44% less violent crime than Raleigh
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,371)
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $26,182/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $26,182 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
44% lower
272.1 vs 488.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$178k less
$168,800 vs $347,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Raleigh
Median Income
$26,182
$78,631 vs $52,449/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $347,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Raleigh, NC are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.