Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($168,800 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $527/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $36,017/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $36,017 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.5%)
13% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$135k less
$168,800 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$36,017
$88,466 vs $52,449/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
13% lower
235.7 vs 272.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 7 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.