Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Erie leads 17 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Trenton
Rent averages $368/mo less ($809 vs $1,177)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
More college-educated — 22.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Erie
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
63% lower
375.6 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Erie
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Income
$1,309
$44,444 vs $43,135/yr
Trenton
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $111,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $44,444 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Erie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 17 of 23 categories. Erie wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $111,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Trenton, NJ are about 305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.