$100k salary, packing up from Richmond
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
under Richmond, every month
Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Allentown is everything that isn't rent.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
7% more expensive than Richmond(vs $1,691/mo)
3.07%
$223/mo less in state tax than Richmond
vs 5.75% in Richmond
$6,269/mo
$106 more than Richmond
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
9% cheaper than Richmond
vs $394k in Richmond
874k
vs 1.4M in Richmond
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Richmond has the edge here, logging 172 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 32 days below 20° here, 9 in Richmond.
53% fewer events than Richmond. The pace eases up.
73/100
12% higher than Richmond
vs 65/100 in Richmond
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
25% higher than Richmond
vs 69/100 in Richmond
9
53% fewer than Richmond
vs 19 nonstops in Richmond
neighbors of allentown on the map of tradeoffs:
compare allentown with:
