Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($101,500 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($809 vs $1,422)
16% less violent crime than Tampa
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $23,667/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Tampa, FL
Pros
Households earn $23,667 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
16% lower
375.6 vs 444.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$232k less
$101,500 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$23,667
$66,802 vs $43,135/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 11 and Tampa wins 12. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $333,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Tampa, FL are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.