Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($168,800 vs $292,700)
Rent averages $555/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $34,934/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.6%)
Riverview, FL
Pros
Households earn $34,934 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$124k less
$168,800 vs $292,700
Riverview
Median Income
$34,934
$87,383 vs $52,449/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
52% lower
131.1 vs 272.1 per 100k
Riverview
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Riverview
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Riverview wins 15. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $292,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Riverview, FL are about 964 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.