Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Erie leads 13 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($101,500 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($809 vs $1,576)
55% less violent crime than Lancaster
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $28,232/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,232 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
55% lower
375.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$267k less
$101,500 vs $368,800
Erie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$28,232
$71,367 vs $43,135/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 13 of 23 categories. Erie wins 13 and Lancaster wins 10. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $368,800 median home), income ($43,135 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Lancaster, CA are about 2,107 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.