Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Erie leads 13 of 21 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($101,500 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($809 vs $1,312)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $19,876/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Erie
Households earn $19,876 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Erie
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$204k less
$101,500 vs $305,600
Worcester
Median Income
$19,876
$63,011 vs $43,135/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 375.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 72.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Erie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Erie leads 13 of 21 categories. Erie wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($43,135 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Worcester, MA are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.