Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Phoenix
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($101,500 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $513/mo less ($809 vs $1,322)
53% less violent crime than Phoenix
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $28,957/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $28,957 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
53% lower
375.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$239k less
$101,500 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$28,957
$72,092 vs $43,135/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 11 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $340,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.