Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Reading
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (9.2%)
Households earn $9,597 more per year on average
More college-educated — 18.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($96,900 vs $168,800)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($942 vs $1,202)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Median income trails Allentown by $9,597/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 9.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$9,597
$52,449 vs $42,852/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
19% lower
272.1 vs 337.2 per 100k
Allentown
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
9.2% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$72k less
$96,900 vs $168,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 14 and Reading wins 9. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $96,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Reading, PA are about 29 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.