Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($101,500 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $543/mo less ($809 vs $1,352)
22% less violent crime than Mesa
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $30,631/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $30,631 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
22% lower
375.6 vs 482.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$226k less
$101,500 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$30,631
$73,766 vs $43,135/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories. Erie wins 8 and Mesa wins 15. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $327,700 median home), income ($43,135 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.