Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 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
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($101,500 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $902/mo less ($809 vs $1,711)
36% less violent crime than Riverside
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $40,313/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.1%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,313 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
36% lower
375.6 vs 589.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$384k less
$101,500 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$40,313
$83,448 vs $43,135/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($43,135 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Riverside, CA are about 2,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.