$100k salary, packing up from Riverside
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
less monthly outlay than Riverside
Allentown sits well below Riverside on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
a quick ledger.
$1,809/mo
27% cheaper than Riverside(vs $2,493/mo)
3.07%
$519/mo less in state tax than Riverside
vs 9.3% in Riverside
$6,269/mo
$1,204 more than Riverside
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$359k
40% cheaper than Riverside
vs $595k in Riverside
874k
vs 4.7M in Riverside
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in allentown.
Riverside has the edge here, logging 249 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 32 days below 20° here, 0 in Riverside.
350% more happening than in Riverside.
73/100
6% higher than Riverside
vs 69/100 in Riverside
Closest outdoor draw: Lehigh Gorge State Park, 23.6 mi.
86/100
7% lower than Riverside
vs 92/100 in Riverside
9
36% fewer than Riverside
vs 14 nonstops in Riverside
neighbors of allentown on the map of tradeoffs:
compare allentown with:
