Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 21 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $1512k less ($168,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1788/mo less ($1,202 vs $2,990)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $122,057/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $122,057 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$1512k less
$168,800 vs $1,680,700
Allentown
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$122,057
$174,506 vs $52,449/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
10% lower
244.5 vs 272.1 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 21 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.