Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Richardson
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($101,500 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $916/mo less ($809 vs $1,725)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $51,227/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,227 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Erie
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$278k less
$101,500 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$51,227
$94,362 vs $43,135/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
61% lower
146.7 vs 375.6 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 and Richardson wins 14. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($43,135 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Richardson, TX are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.