Uprootmap
Reading vs Allentown
Reading 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 Reading to Allentown
In 2022-2023, 667 households filed a move from Reading to Allentown (about 1,052 people, average adjusted gross income $56,634). 733 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,167 in Reading and $1,431 in Allentown. Reading 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 94% in Reading.
Allentown averages 188 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 28°F. Reading is 195 sunny days, 87°F in July, 29°F in January. Commutes average 28 minutes in Allentown and 25 in Reading.
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, 667 households moved Reading → Allentown (about 1,052 people, average AGI $56,634). 733 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 Reading and Allentown changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 46 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,550–$2,950
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$1,950
- Rent a truck
- $350–$650
Explore more
Dig into Allentown
Questions
Is Allentown cheaper than Reading after tax and rent?
No. Allentown leaves about $260 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,167 in Reading 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 Reading 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.