Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($101,500 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($809 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $79,789/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $79,789 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Erie
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Erie
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$378k less
$101,500 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$79,789
$122,924 vs $43,135/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
57% lower
160.1 vs 375.6 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Erie wins 8 and Roswell wins 15. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $479,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Roswell, GA are about 604 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.