Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Warren leads 15 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Warren
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Warren
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Warren by $9,184/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.4%)
Warren, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.4%)
Households earn $9,184 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
50% lower
272.1 vs 541.8 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.4 on the COL index
Warren
Median Income
$9,184
$61,633 vs $52,449/yr
Warren
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $169,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $61,633 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 86.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Warren leads 15 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 8 and Warren 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $169,300 median home), income ($52,449 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Warren, MI are about 412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.