Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($101,500 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $482/mo less ($809 vs $1,291)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 28°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $31,760/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 2.6%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Madison, WI
Pros
Households earn $31,760 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Erie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$225k less
$101,500 vs $326,600
Madison
Median Income
$31,760
$74,895 vs $43,135/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
32% lower
256.0 vs 375.6 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 38.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Erie is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 and Madison wins 14. 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($43,135 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Madison, WI are about 480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.