Performance
Score Breakdown
Rafha
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rafha is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
62% lower compared to Hazleton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Rafha's average rent is
67% lower than Hazleton's.
| Metric | Rafha | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $452 | $1,350 | -67% |
| Groceries | $319 | $400 | -20% |
| Utilities | $133 | $349 | -62% |
| Transport | $150 | $360 | -58% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $293 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,054 | $2,752 | -62% |
| Cost Index | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Hazleton offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Rafha | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $45,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Rafha | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Rafha scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Rafha leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rafha | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 25.0/10 |
| Walkability | 35.0/10 | 30.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Rafha is the larger city
— approximately 2.1x the population of Hazleton.
From a growth perspective, Rafha is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Rafha has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rafha | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,175 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.62% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 24.3 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.04% | 7.40% |
| GDP | $— | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Rafha
Advantages
Rafha boasts a significantly lower cost of living, particularly for rent, compared to major Saudi Arabian cities and international averages.
The city is considered calm and safe, contributing to a high sense of security for residents.
The presence of Northern Borders University branches has transformed Rafha into a local educational hub, fostering intellectual and economic growth.
Ongoing government initiatives and projects, including those under Saudi Vision 2030, support local industries like agriculture and tourism, indicating future growth potential.
Healthcare access is robust, with a central hospital offering comprehensive services and ongoing expansion projects to enhance capacity.
Drawbacks
Public transportation within the city is not widely developed, leading to high car dependency.
The city experiences a hot desert climate, which can be challenging for outdoor activities and comfort.
Limited specific data is publicly available for certain economic metrics like median household income and average salaries for Rafha city.
Walkability is low, and long distances are not recommended for walking, especially in the heat.
The remote location and less developed urban infrastructure might limit entertainment and diverse lifestyle options compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Rafha
#1Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Saudi Arabia
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$452
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
35.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.62%
Unemployment
3.04%
Livability
62
Business
60
Hazleton
#63Pennsylvania, USA
69.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/10
Walkability
30.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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