Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 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
Sandy Springs
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($168,800 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,670)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $40,854/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
Households earn $40,854 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$388k less
$168,800 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$40,854
$93,303 vs $52,449/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
49% lower
139.2 vs 272.1 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Sandy Springs
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Sandy Springs wins 16. 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 Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $556,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.