Allentown PA vs Jonesboro AR — 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%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Allentown

125,320

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Allentown

32.4

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Allentown

20.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Allentown

42.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Allentown

13.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Allentown

2.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Allentown

53.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	125,320	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.4	N/A	-
Foreign Born	20.8%	N/A	-
White	42.3%	N/A	-
Black	13.0%	N/A	-
Asian	2.5%	N/A	-
Hispanic	53.8%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Allentown

$53,403

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Allentown

$25,846

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Allentown

$65,080

Allentown +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Allentown

8.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Allentown

21.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Allentown

19.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$53,403	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$25,846	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,080	$53,714	Allentown +
Unemployment Rate	8.8%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	21.6%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	19.4%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Allentown

$312,103

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Allentown

42.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$312,103	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

319

Allentown +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Allentown

1613

Allentown +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	319	660	Allentown +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1613	2507	Allentown +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

11.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

11.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

15.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Allentown

N/A

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	N/A	39.2%	-
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	N/A	11.4%	-
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	N/A	20.5%	-
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	N/A	11.6%	-
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	N/A	15.1%	-
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	N/A	15.7%	-

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

51.2°F

Allentown +

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Allentown

45.4 in

Allentown +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	51.2°F	59.2°F	Allentown +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	45.4 in	48.2 in	Allentown +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Allentown

9.8 µg/m³

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Jonesboro +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Allentown

55.0%

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.8 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Jonesboro +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Allentown

26.3 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Allentown, PA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Allentown is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Jonesboro has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.5 µg/m³).

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About Allentown & Jonesboro

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