with $100k coming in, swapping out of Boston
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
cheaper each month than Boston
Allentown is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
42% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)
3.07%
$161/mo less in state tax than Boston
vs 5% in Boston
$6,269/mo
$1,497 more than Boston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
53% cheaper than Boston
vs $771k in Boston
874k
vs 4.9M in Boston
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Boston has the edge here, logging 160 pleasant days a year.
84% fewer events than Boston. The pace eases up.
73/100
3% higher than Boston
vs 71/100 in Boston
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
12% lower than Boston
vs 98/100 in Boston
9
91% fewer than Boston
vs 103 nonstops in Boston
neighbors of allentown on the map of tradeoffs:
compare allentown with:
