Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Erie leads 16 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Stockton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($101,500 vs $382,000)
Rent averages $608/mo less ($809 vs $1,417)
67% less violent crime than Stockton
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $28,477/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,477 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) 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 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
67% lower
375.6 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$281k less
$101,500 vs $382,000
Erie
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$28,477
$71,612 vs $43,135/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 16 of 23 categories. Erie wins 16 and Stockton wins 7. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $382,000 median home), income ($43,135 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Stockton, CA are about 2,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.