Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 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
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($101,500 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $1085/mo less ($809 vs $1,894)
49% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $42,977/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,977 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
49% lower
375.6 vs 739.8 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$414k less
$101,500 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$42,977
$86,112 vs $43,135/yr
Vallejo
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Erie is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Vallejo 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($43,135 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.