Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Allentown, PA versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 15% higher in Allentown, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$973
+7% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,042
+5% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,296
+2% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,433
+0% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$217,200
+15% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$45,300
+15% in Allentown, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$59,940
+22% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.4 yr
+1.0 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
42.3%
25.7%
+16.6 pp in Allentown, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
18.3%
+1.1 pp in Allentown, PA
Avg Commute
24.8 min
22.8 min
+2.0 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
527.5
+92% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
1,591.5
2,949.2
+85% in Hartford, CT

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
51.2°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
43.6 in
+1.8 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.7
24.3
+12% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.08
$23.33
+11% 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
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
6.99%
+3.9 pp in CT

Allentown vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Allentown, PA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Hartford?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).