Allentown vs Philadelphia
Compare Allentown, PA and Philadelphia, PA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,246/mo in Allentown and $1,347/mo in Philadelphia, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,426/mo and $1,737/mo. Across the four public-data screens Philadelphia comes out ahead (266 vs 226 summed points), though Allentown still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 87°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Allentown; if walkable daily life matters more, Philadelphia screens stronger on the walkability proxy (41 vs 21). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Philadelphia leads 79 to 71 on the work screen.
Philadelphia leads 50 to 34 on the daily life screen.
Philadelphia leads 71 to 53 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Allentown is roughly $72,857 in Philadelphia using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Allentown | Philadelphia | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,246/mo | $1,347/mo | Allentown |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,426/mo | $1,737/mo | Allentown |
| Median home value | $258,000 | $305,000 | Allentown |
| State income tax | 3.1% | 3.1% | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 31.8 min | Allentown |
| Safety score | 61/100 | 66/100 | Philadelphia |
| School score | 4/10 | 7/10 | Philadelphia |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 41/100 | Philadelphia |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.2 | 180.5 | Philadelphia |
| Mountain distance | 13 mi | 19 mi | Allentown |
| Coast distance | 48 mi | 4 mi | Philadelphia |
What stands out
Allentown stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 6 miles
- Coast access within 48 miles
- Mountain access within 13 miles
Allentown tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Philadelphia stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 24 miles
- Named beach within 30 miles
Philadelphia tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Allentown cheaper than Philadelphia?
On public benchmarks Allentown is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,246/mo in Allentown vs $1,347/mo in Philadelphia; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,426/mo vs $1,737/mo; state income tax is 3.1% vs 3.1%.
Is Allentown or Philadelphia safer?
Philadelphia screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 61/100 for Allentown and 66/100 for Philadelphia (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Allentown or Philadelphia?
School screens show 4/10 for Allentown vs 7/10 for Philadelphia, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Allentown and Philadelphia?
Allentown: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 20°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Philadelphia: 87°F / 26°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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