Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Sacramento
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($168,800 vs $450,500)
64% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,592)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $26,505/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,505 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.1 vs 754.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$282k less
$168,800 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$26,505
$78,954 vs $52,449/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Sacramento wins 14. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Sacramento, CA are about 2,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.