Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($168,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $42,615/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,615 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$276k less
$168,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$42,615
$95,064 vs $52,449/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Thornton, CO are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.