01 · the cities
Allentown
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.
full dispatch→Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,809/mo
$1,733/mo
$76/mo less than Allentown (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$359k
$463k
$103k more than Allentown
State income tax
State income tax
3.1%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,269/mo
$6,234/mo
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
157 days
184 days
27 more than Allentown
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
32 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 43 more days per year than Allentown.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
73 / 100
71 / 100
2.0 pts behind Allentown
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
9 routes
11 routes
Metro size
Metro size
874k metro
769k metro
Allentown has 1.6x fewer events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
5
Allentown
categories won
2
Colorado Springs
categories won
Allentown leads on money and lifestyle and wins overall.
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