Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford 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
Stamford
Connecticut
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($168,800 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $927/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,129)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $48,269/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $48,269 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Allentown
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$416k less
$168,800 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$48,269
$100,718 vs $52,449/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
42% lower
157.5 vs 272.1 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $584,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Stamford, CT are about 106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.