Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 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
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($101,500 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $593/mo less ($809 vs $1,402)
30% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails New Haven by $11,170/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
New Haven, CT
Pros
Households earn $11,170 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
30% lower
375.6 vs 534.8 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$135k less
$101,500 vs $236,500
Erie
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Median Income
$11,170
$54,305 vs $43,135/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Erie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and New Haven 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $236,500 median home), income ($43,135 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and New Haven, CT are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.