Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane 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 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($101,500 vs $286,900)
44% less violent crime than Spokane
Rent averages $251/mo less ($809 vs $1,060)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $20,181/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Spokane, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,181 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Erie
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
44% lower
375.6 vs 674.9 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$185k less
$101,500 vs $286,900
Spokane
Median Income
$20,181
$63,316 vs $43,135/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Spokane
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Erie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $286,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Spokane, WA are about 1,850 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.