Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
14
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,056 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($101,500 vs $192,000)
56% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $84/mo less ($809 vs $893)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Cincinnati by $6,056/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Income
$6,056
$49,191 vs $43,135/yr
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
56% lower
375.6 vs 845.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$91k less
$101,500 vs $192,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 43.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 9 and Erie wins 14. 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 Cincinnati to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $101,500 median home), income ($49,191 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Erie, PA are about 310 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.