Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 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
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ 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 $382,100)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($809 vs $1,472)
20% less violent crime than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $28,887/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.7%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $28,887 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
20% lower
375.6 vs 470.3 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$281k less
$101,500 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$28,887
$72,022 vs $43,135/yr
Tempe
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $382,100 median home), income ($43,135 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.