Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Allentown, PA versus $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 11% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$798
+23% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$782
+29% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$984
+23% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,100
+23% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$169,700
+10% in Allentown, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$60,293
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$47,700
+3% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
35.0 yr
+2.6 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
42.3%
62.2%
+19.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
28.5%
+9.1 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
24.8 min
21.4 min
+3.4 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
308.9
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
1,591.5
2,245.4
+41% in Fort Wayne, IN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
50.5°F
+0.7°F in Allentown, PA
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
38.3 in
+7.0 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
18.1
+16% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$13.70
+29% in Allentown, PA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Allentown, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Allentown, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Allentown, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Allentown, PA

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
2.95%
+0.1 pp in PA

Allentown vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Fort Wayne?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).