Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Erie leads 15 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($809 vs $942)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Reading, PA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Erie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
6.8% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Violent Crime
10% lower
337.2 vs 375.6 per 100k
Reading
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $942 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 38.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 15 of 23 categories. Erie wins 15 and Reading wins 8. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $96,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Reading, PA are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.