Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Kenosha
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($101,500 vs $194,400)
Rent averages $270/mo less ($809 vs $1,079)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kenosha by $21,828/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Households earn $21,828 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Erie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$93k less
$101,500 vs $194,400
Kenosha
Median Income
$21,828
$64,963 vs $43,135/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
24% lower
285.7 vs 375.6 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,079 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 36.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 99,493 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Erie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories. Erie wins 7 and Kenosha wins 16. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $194,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Kenosha, WI are about 400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.