Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ 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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Households earn $19,243 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($101,500 vs $170,700)
47% less violent crime than Des Moines
Rent averages $186/mo less ($809 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $19,243/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$19,243
$62,378 vs $43,135/yr
Des Moines
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Des Moines
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
47% lower
375.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$69k less
$101,500 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 5.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $101,500 median home), income ($62,378 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Erie, PA are about 697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.