Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 22 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Waco
Households earn $5,028 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,202)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Allentown by $5,028/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$5,028
$52,449 vs $47,421/yr
Allentown
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.1 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Waco wins 15. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($52,449 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Waco, TX are about 1,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.