Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Erie leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($101,500 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $548/mo less ($809 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
12% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.8%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Cons
Median income trails Hemet by $6,766/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
Households earn $6,766 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Erie
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
12% lower
375.6 vs 424.8 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$176k less
$101,500 vs $277,200
Erie
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Median Income
$6,766
$49,901 vs $43,135/yr
Hemet
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $277,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $49,901 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Hemet wins 11. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $277,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Hemet, CA are about 2,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.