Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 15 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682 ✓ 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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,794 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Erie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $496k less ($101,500 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $796/mo less ($809 vs $1,605)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
11% less violent crime than El Monte
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $16,794/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$16,794
$59,929 vs $43,135/yr
El Monte
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
11% lower
375.6 vs 423.2 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$496k less
$101,500 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 22.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 15 of 23 categories. El Monte 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 El Monte to Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $101,500 median home), income ($59,929 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Erie, PA are about 2,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.