Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 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
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($101,500 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($809 vs $1,530)
48% less violent crime than Portland
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $42,741/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.6%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $42,741 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
48% lower
375.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$422k less
$101,500 vs $523,100
Portland
Median Income
$42,741
$85,876 vs $43,135/yr
Portland
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Erie is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $523,100 median home), income ($43,135 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Portland, OR are about 2,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.