Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Allentown leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $8,005 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (9.2%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($111,200 vs $168,800)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Allentown by $8,005/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 9.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Income
$8,005
$52,449 vs $44,444/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
73% lower
272.1 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Allentown
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
9.2% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$58k less
$111,200 vs $168,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allentown leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 16 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $111,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Trenton, NJ are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.