Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($168,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $41,913/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $41,913 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$211k less
$168,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$41,913
$94,362 vs $52,449/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.7 vs 272.1 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Richardson wins 16. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($52,449 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Richardson, TX are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.