Is Allentown cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Allentown is $1,317 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $55,494 in Allentown compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Allentown or Dallas?

Allentown is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 109 in Dallas — 31% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Allentown or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Allentown and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Allentown, PA vs Dallas, TX

Allentown, PA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,317 a month in Allentown and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $55,494 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Allentown takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Allentown leads by 104% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Allentown can feel further apart than Allentown and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Allentown and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Allentown report Full Dallas report

Allentown, PA

Rent: $1,317/mo
Median income: $55,494
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Allentown rent is 11% cheaper than Dallas

Allentown

Winner

$1,317/mo

Dallas

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,317 a month in Allentown versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Allentown is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,860 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Allentown still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.

Median income

27% higher

Dallas's median income is 27% higher than Allentown

Allentown

$55,494

Dallas

Winner

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $55,494 in Allentown, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Dallas — about $15,024 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Dallas is the stronger labor market on paper. Allentown can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

31% lower crime

Allentown's crime index is 31% lower than Dallas

Allentown

Winner

75 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Allentown's crime index is 75 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Allentown. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Allentown is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Allentown and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Allentown

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Allentown, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

104% more comfortable

Allentown weather is 104% more comfortable than Dallas

Allentown

Winner

69°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Allentown scores 104% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Allentown and 91°F in Dallas. Allentown reads as mild, livable temperatures; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Allentown is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Allentown

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Allentown is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,317 a month. Choose Allentown if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Allentown if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 104%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Allentown is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Allentown is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Dallas (75 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Allentown report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Allentown vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Allentown is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Allentown offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Allentown vs Dallas FAQ

Is Allentown cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Allentown is $1,317 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $55,494 in Allentown compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Allentown or Dallas?: Allentown is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 109 in Dallas — 31% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Allentown or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Allentown and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Allentown?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps