Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $28,601 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($101,500 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($809 vs $1,297)
22% less violent crime than Arlington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $28,601/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$28,601
$71,736 vs $43,135/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
22% lower
375.6 vs 482.9 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$150k less
$101,500 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Erie wins 11. 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 Arlington to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $101,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Erie, PA are about 1,136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.