Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
15
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $28,538 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Erie
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.8%)
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($101,500 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($809 vs $1,314)
30% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $28,538/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$28,538
$71,673 vs $43,135/yr
Erie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
30% lower
375.6 vs 539.8 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$203k less
$101,500 vs $304,500
Erie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Erie wins 15. 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 Chicago to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $101,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Erie, PA are about 391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.