Allentown PA vs Fargo ND — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Allentown, PA

Pennsylvania · Population: 125,320

Median HH Income$53,403
Median Home Price$312,103
Unemployment8.8%
Bachelor's+19.4%

Fargo, ND

North Dakota · Population: 129,064

Median HH Income$66,029
Median Home Price$318,584
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+43.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Allentown

125,320

Fargo

129,064

Fargo +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

N/A

Median Age

Allentown

32.4

Fargo

32.2

Fargo +

Foreign Born

Allentown

20.8%

Allentown +

Fargo

9.7%

White

Allentown

42.3%

Fargo

80.8%

Fargo +

Black

Allentown

13.0%

Allentown +

Fargo

8.3%

Asian

Allentown

2.5%

Fargo

3.9%

Fargo +

Hispanic

Allentown

53.8%

Allentown +

Fargo

3.7%

Spanish at Home

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Population	125,320	129,064	Fargo +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.4	32.2	Fargo +
Foreign Born	20.8%	9.7%	Allentown +
White	42.3%	80.8%	Fargo +
Black	13.0%	8.3%	Allentown +
Asian	2.5%	3.9%	Fargo +
Hispanic	53.8%	3.7%	Allentown +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Allentown

$53,403

Fargo

$66,029

Fargo +

Per Capita Income

Allentown

$25,846

Fargo

$42,212

Fargo +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Allentown

$65,080

Fargo

$71,089

Fargo +

Unemployment Rate

Allentown

8.8%

Fargo

3.9%

Fargo +

Poverty Rate

Allentown

21.6%

Fargo

12.8%

Fargo +

Bachelor's Degree+

Allentown

19.4%

Fargo

43.2%

Fargo +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Median HH Income	$53,403	$66,029	Fargo +
Per Capita Income	$25,846	$42,212	Fargo +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,080	$71,089	Fargo +
Unemployment Rate	8.8%	3.9%	Fargo +
Poverty Rate	21.6%	12.8%	Fargo +
Bachelor's Degree+	19.4%	43.2%	Fargo +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Allentown

$312,103

Allentown +

Fargo

$318,584

Homeownership Rate

Allentown

42.3%

Fargo

44.1%

Fargo +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$312,103	$318,584	Allentown +
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	44.1%	Fargo +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

319

Fargo

288

Fargo +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

1613

Allentown +

Fargo

2037

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	319	288	Fargo +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1613	2037	Allentown +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

34.3%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

8.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

14.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

6.8%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

21.5%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Fargo

11.8%

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	N/A	34.3%	-
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	N/A	8.1%	-
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	N/A	14.5%	-
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	N/A	6.8%	-
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	N/A	21.5%	-
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	N/A	11.8%	-

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

51.2°F

Fargo

42.4°F

Fargo +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

45.4 in

Fargo

22.6 in

Fargo +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	51.2°F	42.4°F	Fargo +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.4 in	22.6 in	Fargo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Allentown

9.8 µg/m³

Fargo

8.6 µg/m³

Fargo +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Allentown

55.0%

Fargo

75.0%

Fargo +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.8 µg/m³	8.6 µg/m³	Fargo +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Fargo +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Allentown

26.3 min

Fargo

17.3 min

Fargo +

Metric	Allentown, PA	Fargo, ND	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.3 min	17.3 min	Fargo +

Which City is Right for You?

Fargo leads in median household income at $66,029, while allentown offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $312,103. On public safety, Fargo is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 319 in Allentown. Fargo has a lower unemployment rate at 3.9%, and Fargo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³).

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About Allentown & Fargo

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