Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Worcester
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($168,800 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,312)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $10,562/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Allentown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,562 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Median Home Value
$137k less
$168,800 vs $305,600
Allentown
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.4°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$10,562
$63,011 vs $52,449/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 272.1 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 11 of 21 categories. Allentown wins 10 and Worcester wins 11. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($52,449 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Worcester, MA are about 223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.