Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa 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 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($168,800 vs $333,200)
39% less violent crime than Tampa
Rent averages $220/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,422)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $14,353/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $14,353 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
39% lower
272.1 vs 444.6 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$164k less
$168,800 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$14,353
$66,802 vs $52,449/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $333,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Tampa, FL are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.