Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Santa Ana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($168,800 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $683/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,885)
45% less violent crime than Santa Ana
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $31,761/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,761 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
45% lower
272.1 vs 493.1 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$455k less
$168,800 vs $624,000
Allentown
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$31,761
$84,210 vs $52,449/yr
Santa Ana
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 10. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $624,000 median home), income ($52,449 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.