Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($168,800 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $521/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $89,935/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $89,935 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.3%)
13% less violent crime than Allentown
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$288k less
$168,800 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$89,935
$142,384 vs $52,449/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
13% lower
235.4 vs 272.1 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($52,449 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.