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Cost of living in Erie, PA

Livability score 71 · cost-of-living index 91.9 (US = 100)

Erie, PA
Photo: User:Cards84664 via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How Erie compares

Where Erie falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $224k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $224k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $128 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $128 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.71% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.71% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 390 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 390 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22°

Map of Erie

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.9 metro-area #57 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 98.3 metro-area #138 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.23 metro-area #55 of 200
Median household income $59,396 metro-area #176 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $34,765 metro-area #175 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 40.1 years metro-area #145 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 29.6% metro-area #138 of 200
Foreign-born residents 4.4% metro-area #175 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 68.3% metro-area #67 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 5.47% metro-area #126 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) -2.6% metro-area #194 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $224,109 metro-area #26 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.8× metro-area #36 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +5.9% metro-area #10 of 200
Price per square foot $128 metro-area #37 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,749 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,138 metro-area #9 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 384
Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.6% state #115 of 200
Combined sales tax 6.34% state #32 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 3.07%
Capital gains tax 3.07% state #53 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 1.71% metro-area #166 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,738 metro-area #105 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 76.0 years metro-area #122 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 6.1% metro-area #38 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 81 metro-area #76 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $65 state #29 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Required
Emissions detail Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices 4
Avg commute to work 20 min metro-area #8 of 200
Commute by driving alone 76.4% metro-area #122 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 19.9% metro-area #11 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 21.5¢/kWh state #147 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200
Gasoline $3.55/gal state #150 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $82 state #167 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $65 state #14 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 84.1 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #58 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 38 metro-area #25 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 3 metro-area #12 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200
Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200
Annual precipitation 42.0" metro-area #100 of 200
Annual snowfall 50.0" metro-area #179 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 45% metro-area #196 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 6b
Frost window 04-20 → 10-20

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 390 state #91 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,400 state #11 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200
Parks 60
Hiking areas 15
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 4

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200
Permit detail Moderate

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Salaries by occupation in Erie

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $172,890
Pharmacists $127,730
Marketing Managers $111,470
Lawyers $109,010
Financial Managers $108,370
Human Resources Managers $102,720
Physician Assistants $102,230
Software Developers $99,920
Mechanical Engineers $96,650
Physical Therapists $93,690
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $90,510
General & Operations Managers $88,270
Construction Managers $86,070
Registered Nurses $78,740
Civil Engineers $78,450
Data Scientists $74,650
Dental Hygienists $71,250
Accountants & Auditors $65,320
Elementary School Teachers $63,820
Electricians $61,810
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $60,990
Carpenters $50,160
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,870
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $48,000
Real Estate Sales Agents $47,650
Graphic Designers $46,140
Medical Assistants $36,070

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