Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 12 of 20 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Sunrise
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($168,800 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $644/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,846)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunrise
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunrise by $13,552/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.5%)
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $13,552 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Allentown
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$127k less
$168,800 vs $296,100
Sunrise
Median Income
$13,552
$66,001 vs $52,449/yr
Sunrise
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Sunrise
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $66,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 12 of 20 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Sunrise wins 12. 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $296,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Sunrise, FL are about 1,034 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.