Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange 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
Population
94,826
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $747k less ($101,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1339/mo less ($809 vs $2,148)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 8 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 Orange by $66,200/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,200 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Erie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$747k less
$101,500 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$66,200
$109,335 vs $43,135/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
40% lower
226.1 vs 375.6 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Erie wins 8 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $848,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Orange, CA are about 2,119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.