Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 13 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $516k less ($101,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1353/mo less ($809 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 25 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $68,582/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,582 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Erie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Erie
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$516k less
$101,500 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$68,582
$111,717 vs $43,135/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
20% lower
301.4 vs 375.6 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Tracy, 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 | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Erie is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 13 of 23 categories. Erie wins 10 and Tracy wins 13. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($43,135 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Tracy, CA are about 2,192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.