City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Norwich, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Norwich, CT (100.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $100,500 in Norwich, CT.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,496 a month in Norwich, CT versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Norwich, CT and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $855 a year higher in Norwich, CT than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Allentown, PA to Norwich, CT ($125,431 → $120,094), while prices change by +0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.7% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Norwich, CT: price level 100.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Norwich, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,477 in Norwich | $99,525 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,496/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $57,370 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Norwich |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 93.7 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 148.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Norwich, CT
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$855/yr.
67 Fair offer
Norwich, CT → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$855/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Norwich, CT is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Norwich, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Norwich, CT | Real change, Allentown → Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,642 | −4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $84,260 | −4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $100,992 | −4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $120,094 | −4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $141,915 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Norwich, CT | Norwich pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $83,840 | $83,442 (+5.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $123,780 | $123,192 (+0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $82,530 | $82,138 (+4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $101,330 | $100,849 (−0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.