Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 17 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Roanoke
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Rent averages $285/mo less ($917 vs $1,202)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$926
$52,449 vs $51,523/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
56% lower
272.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Roanoke
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and Roanoke wins 17. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $162,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Roanoke, VA are about 332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.