Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Suffolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($101,500 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($809 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $44,623/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $44,623 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$213k less
$101,500 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Median Income
$44,623
$87,758 vs $43,135/yr
Suffolk
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Erie wins 7 and Suffolk wins 16. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Suffolk, VA are about 417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.