Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 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
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($101,500 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($809 vs $1,174)
39% less violent crime than St. Paul
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $26,784/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $26,784 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Erie
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
39% lower
375.6 vs 617.7 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$163k less
$101,500 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$26,784
$69,919 vs $43,135/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ 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) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and St. Paul 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and St. Paul, MN are about 681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.