Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 22 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
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $523k less ($101,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $1044/mo less ($809 vs $1,853)
59% less violent crime than Richmond
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $43,483/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,483 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Erie
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
59% lower
375.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$523k less
$101,500 vs $624,800
Erie
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 81.1°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$43,483
$86,618 vs $43,135/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Erie is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 22 categories. Erie wins 14 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($43,135 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Richmond, CA are about 2,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.