Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 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
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($101,500 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $990/mo less ($809 vs $1,799)
33% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $48,016/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $48,016 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
33% lower
375.6 vs 561.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$399k less
$101,500 vs $500,100
Jersey City
Median Income
$48,016
$91,151 vs $43,135/yr
Jersey City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Jersey City 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $500,100 median home), income ($43,135 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Jersey City, NJ are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.