Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $43,421 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($101,500 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $740/mo less ($809 vs $1,549)
20% less violent crime than Austin
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $43,421/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$43,421
$86,556 vs $43,135/yr
Austin
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
20% lower
375.6 vs 466.9 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$360k less
$101,500 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ 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 | 123⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $101,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Erie, PA are about 1,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.