Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($101,500 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($809 vs $1,250)
59% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $14,402/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $14,402 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
59% lower
375.6 vs 908.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$114k less
$101,500 vs $215,500
Erie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Income
$14,402
$57,537 vs $43,135/yr
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 14 and Philadelphia wins 9. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $215,500 median home), income ($43,135 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Philadelphia, PA are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.