Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 12 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,403 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $612k less ($101,500 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $1149/mo less ($809 vs $1,958)
37% less violent crime than Anaheim
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $45,403/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$45,403
$88,538 vs $43,135/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Anaheim
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
37% lower
375.6 vs 596.2 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$612k less
$101,500 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 11 and Erie wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $101,500 median home), income ($88,538 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Erie, PA are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.