What are the schools like in Erie, PA?

Erie is served primarily by Erie City SD. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Erie?

The median household income in Erie, PA is $43,135 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.8%.

What is the weather like in Erie, PA?

Erie has an average high temperature of 35.2°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 104.3 inches.

Erie, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Erie, PA affordable or expensive?

Erie's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Erie is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $101,500 and the median rent is $809 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Erie, PA?

Erie has a violent crime rate of 375.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1929.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Erie, PA a Good Place to Live?

Erie is a mid-sized city of 94,826 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $43,135 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Erie stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Erie is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Erie city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.5

Erie's overall cost of living index is 91.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Erie costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Erie, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$101,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$809	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,135	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Erie's violent crime rate is 375.6 per 100,000 residents — 1% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

375.6 /100k

Property Crime

1929.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Erie is served primarily by Erie City SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Erie, PA	National Avg
School District	Erie City SD	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Erie sees average highs of 35.2°F in January and 81.1°F in July, with 43.0 inches of annual precipitation and 104.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Erie, PA
Average High — January	35.2°F
Average High — July	81.1°F
Annual Precipitation	43.0"
Annual Snowfall	104.3"

Demographics

Metric	Erie, PA	National Avg
Population	94,826	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	21.4%	22.2%
65 and over	15.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wesleyville, PA 3 mi Lawrence Park, PA 3 mi Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA 4 mi Northwest Harborcreek, PA 5 mi McKean, PA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Erie

Erie, PA is covered by 12 ZIP codes:

16508 16510 16502 16503 16504 16507 16505 16509 16501 16546 16506 16550

Erie vs Other Cities

Erie, PA vs Wesleyville, PA Erie, PA vs Lawrence Park, PA Erie, PA vs Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA Erie, PA vs Northwest Harborcreek, PA Erie, PA vs McKean, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Erie, PA affordable or expensive?

Erie's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Erie roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $101,500 and median rent is $809/month.

What is the crime rate in Erie, PA?

Erie's violent crime rate is 375.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1929.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Erie?

Public schools in Erie are operated by Erie City SD. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Erie, PA a good place to live?

Erie, PA has a population of 94,826, a median household income of $43,135, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Erie?

Erie averages 35.2°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.0 inches with about 104.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Erie?

Erie, PA is covered by 12 ZIP codes: 16508, 16510, 16502, 16503, 16504, 16507, 16505, 16509, 16501, 16546, 16506, 16550.

What is the population of Erie?

The population of Erie, Pennsylvania is 94,826 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Erie?

Key numbers for living in Erie: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $101,500, median household income $43,135, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Erie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.