Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley 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
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($168,800 vs $307,700)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $14,034/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
11% less violent crime than Allentown
Households earn $14,034 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$139k less
$168,800 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$14,034
$66,483 vs $52,449/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
11% lower
242.1 vs 272.1 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.