Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Tallahassee leads 13 of 20 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Tallahassee
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($168,800 vs $256,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$88k less
$168,800 vs $256,400
Tallahassee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Tallahassee
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Tallahassee
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 95.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $256,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,165 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $52,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.1% ✓ 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) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Tallahassee is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Tallahassee leads 13 of 20 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $256,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Tallahassee, FL are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.