City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Huntington, WV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 13.1% higher than in Huntington, WV. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntington, WV would need about $113,100 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $853 in Huntington, WV. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 14% in Huntington, WV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $815 a year higher in Huntington, WV than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Huntington, WV ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.1% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Huntington, WV: price level 88.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Huntington, WV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 88.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,450 in Huntington | $113,058 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $853/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,295 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,885 (WV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $44,600 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Huntington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 51.3 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 88.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Huntington, WV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$815/yr.
100 Strong offer
Huntington, WV → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.5%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$815/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Huntington, WV is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Huntington, WV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Huntington, WV | Real change, Allentown → Huntington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Huntington, WV | Huntington pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $57,450 | $64,952 (−17.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $110,780 | $125,245 (+1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $70,840 | $80,090 (+2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $81,010 | $91,588 (−9.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.