Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Fort Worth
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($101,500 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($809 vs $1,313)
18% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $29,591/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,591 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
18% lower
375.6 vs 458.4 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$149k less
$101,500 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$29,591
$72,726 vs $43,135/yr
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 11 and Fort Worth 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 Erie to Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $250,300 median home), income ($43,135 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.