Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 12 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($168,800 vs $343,000)
58% less violent crime than Redding
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 100°F
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,278)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $14,874/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $14,874 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
58% lower
272.1 vs 647.8 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$174k less
$168,800 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$14,874
$67,323 vs $52,449/yr
Redding
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and Redding wins 12. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $343,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Redding, CA are about 2,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.