Allentown vs Scranton
Compare Allentown, PA and Scranton, PA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Scranton is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $909/mo versus $1,246/mo in Allentown — a gap of about $337/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,039/mo against $1,426/mo. Across the four public-data screens Scranton comes out ahead (247 vs 226 summed points), though Allentown still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 83°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Scranton; if walkable daily life matters more, Allentown screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Scranton leads 80 to 68 on the cost and climate screen.
Scranton leads 75 to 71 on the work screen.
Scranton leads 47 to 34 on the daily life screen.
Allentown leads 53 to 45 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Allentown is roughly $255,000 in Scranton using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Allentown | Scranton | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,246/mo | $909/mo | Scranton |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,426/mo | $1,039/mo | Scranton |
| Median home value | $258,000 | $164,000 | Scranton |
| State income tax | 3.1% | 3.1% | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 24.4 min | Scranton |
| Safety score | 61/100 | 61/100 | Tie |
| School score | 4/10 | 3/10 | Allentown |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 8/100 | Allentown |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.2 | 189.2 | Scranton |
| Mountain distance | 13 mi | 34 mi | Allentown |
| Coast distance | 48 mi | 88 mi | Allentown |
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
Scranton stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 3 miles
- Named beach within 50 miles
- Mountain access within 34 miles
Scranton tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Allentown cheaper than Scranton?
On public benchmarks Scranton is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,246/mo in Allentown vs $909/mo in Scranton; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,426/mo vs $1,039/mo; state income tax is 3.1% vs 3.1%.
Is Allentown or Scranton safer?
Allentown screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 61/100 for Allentown and 61/100 for Scranton (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Allentown or Scranton?
School screens show 4/10 for Allentown vs 3/10 for Scranton, 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 Scranton?
Allentown: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 20°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Scranton: 83°F / 19°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.
Start City Match