Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco 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
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $1180k less ($168,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1114/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,316)
54% less violent crime than San Francisco
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $84,240/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $84,240 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 86°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.1 vs 596.5 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$1180k less
$168,800 vs $1,348,700
Allentown
Summer Heat
24.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$84,240
$136,689 vs $52,449/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 11 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and San Francisco, CA are about 2,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.