Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Virginia Beach
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($168,800 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,568)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $35,095/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,095 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Home Value
$175k less
$168,800 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$35,095
$87,544 vs $52,449/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
66% lower
92.3 vs 272.1 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 5 and Virginia Beach wins 18. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.