Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($101,500 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1544/mo less ($809 vs $2,353)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $105,092/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $105,092 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Erie
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Erie
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$536k less
$101,500 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$105,092
$148,227 vs $43,135/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
63% lower
138.1 vs 375.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 64.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Erie wins 6 and Highlands Ranch wins 17. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $637,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.