Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 3% higher in Wilmington, DE. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$1,103
+6% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,024
+7% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,213
+5% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,394
+3% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$224,500
+19% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$55,269
+3% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$54,310
+11% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
37.0 yr
+4.6 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
42.3%
46.0%
+3.7 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
33.1%
+13.7 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
24.8 min
23.0 min
+1.8 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
1,138.2
+315% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,591.5
3,182.4
+100% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+3.7°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
43.1 in
+2.3 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
19.4
+10% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.51
+17% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Allentown, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Allentown, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Allentown, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Allentown, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Allentown, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
6.60%
+3.5 pp in DE

Allentown vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Wilmington?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).