$100k salary, packing up from Charleston
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
below Charleston's monthly cost
The gap is real. Allentown costs noticeably less than Charleston, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
9% cheaper than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)
3.07%
$286/mo less in state tax than Charleston
vs 6.5% in Charleston
$6,269/mo
$464 more than Charleston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
17% cheaper than Charleston
vs $432k in Charleston
874k
vs 849k in Charleston
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Charleston has the edge here, logging 212 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 32 days below 20° vs Charleston's 0.
But the calendar thins out: Charleston stays 1.5× busier.
73/100
9% higher than Charleston
vs 67/100 in Charleston
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
7% lower than Charleston
vs 92/100 in Charleston
9
55% fewer than Charleston
vs 20 nonstops in Charleston
cities that play in allentown's register:
compare allentown with:
