Uprootmap
Lancaster vs Allentown
Lancaster and Allentown
Photo: Mcd3sign / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Allentown are under the US rate in this release, 3.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lancaster to Allentown
In 2022-2023, 111 households filed a move from Lancaster to Allentown (about 173 people, average adjusted gross income $69,775). 163 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,217 in Lancaster and $1,431 in Allentown. Lancaster has a state tax on wages. Allentown has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Allentown is 96% of the national level for the same work, against 95% in Lancaster.
Allentown averages 188 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 28°F. Lancaster is 194 sunny days, 87°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 28 minutes in Allentown and 24 in Lancaster.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 111 households moved Lancaster → Allentown (about 173 people, average AGI $69,775). 163 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Lancaster and Allentown changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 82 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Allentown
Questions
Is Allentown cheaper than Lancaster after tax and rent?
No. Allentown leaves about $212 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,217 in Lancaster and $1,431 in Allentown.
Does Allentown have state income tax?
Allentown is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Lancaster to Allentown?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.