Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista 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
Population
94,826
Vista
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($101,500 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $1193/mo less ($809 vs $2,002)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $45,580/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,580 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Erie
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Erie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$521k less
$101,500 vs $622,900
Vista
Median Income
$45,580
$88,715 vs $43,135/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
16% lower
316.4 vs 375.6 per 100k
Vista
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $622,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Vista, CA are about 2,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.