on $100k a year, leaving Birmingham
changea dispatch from
allentown
PA
40.60°N
75.49°W
Allentown is the heart of the Lehigh Valley, with old industrial bones turning into a quietly resilient mid-sized city. The Lehigh River runs past, the historic downtown has been steadily finding its footing with breweries and restaurants in the old buildings, and the surrounding farmland is gorgeous. It's an hour and change from both Philly and NYC. Cheaper than both, by a lot.
the verdict
pricier each month than Birmingham
Allentown costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
29% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)
3.07%
$161/mo less in state tax than Birmingham
vs 5% in Birmingham
$6,269/mo
$241 less than Birmingham
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
38% more expensive than Birmingham
vs $261k in Birmingham
874k
vs 1.2M in Birmingham
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Birmingham actually gets more: 171 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 32 days below 20° here, 4 in Birmingham.
Birmingham hosts 3.3× more events.
73/100
20% higher than Birmingham
vs 61/100 in Birmingham
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
9% higher than Birmingham
vs 79/100 in Birmingham
9
55% fewer than Birmingham
vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham
cities that play in allentown's register:
compare allentown with:
