Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ 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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,891 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($101,500 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($809 vs $1,464)
48% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Colorado Springs
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $35,891/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$35,891
$79,026 vs $43,135/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
48% lower
375.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$282k less
$101,500 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 14 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 Colorado Springs to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $101,500 median home), income ($79,026 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Erie, PA are about 1,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.