Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Westminster
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($101,500 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($809 vs $1,732)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $47,516/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $47,516 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Erie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Erie
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$366k less
$101,500 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$47,516
$90,651 vs $43,135/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
19% lower
303.6 vs 375.6 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 54.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 and Westminster wins 14. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $467,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Westminster, CO are about 1,307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.