Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Households earn $14,568 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($101,500 vs $230,500)
54% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Rent averages $257/mo less ($809 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Chattanooga by $14,568/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.1%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$14,568
$57,703 vs $43,135/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
54% lower
375.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$129k less
$101,500 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 43.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and Erie wins 9. 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 Chattanooga to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $101,500 median home), income ($57,703 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Erie, PA are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.