Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 12 of 22 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Norwalk
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $492k less ($101,500 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $1051/mo less ($809 vs $1,860)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $48,124/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,124 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Erie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$492k less
$101,500 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$48,124
$91,259 vs $43,135/yr
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Norwalk
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 22 categories. Erie wins 10 and Norwalk wins 12. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $593,100 median home), income ($43,135 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.