$100k salary, packing up from Phoenix
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
the monthly cost of moving past Phoenix
Almost a wash on cost. The case for Allentown is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
4% more expensive than Phoenix(vs $1,739/mo)
3.07%
$48/mo more in state tax than Phoenix
vs 2.5% in Phoenix
$6,269/mo
$117 less than Phoenix
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
22% cheaper than Phoenix
vs $458k in Phoenix
874k
vs 5.1M in Phoenix
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Phoenix edges ahead with 181 pleasant days. A real winter, not a brutal one: 32 days under 20°, vs 0 in Phoenix.
Lighter on events: Phoenix packs 7.4× more into a month.
73/100
11% higher than Phoenix
vs 66/100 in Phoenix
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
11% lower than Phoenix
vs 97/100 in Phoenix
9
90% fewer than Phoenix
vs 91 nonstops in Phoenix
compare allentown with:
