Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Spokane
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($168,800 vs $286,900)
60% less violent crime than Spokane
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $10,867/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.2%)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $10,867 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,202)
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) 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
Violent Crime
60% lower
272.1 vs 674.9 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$118k less
$168,800 vs $286,900
Spokane
Median Income
$10,867
$63,316 vs $52,449/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Spokane, WA are about 2,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.