Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Erie, PA

    Is Erie a good place to live?

    Watch Erie

    Erie ranks #20 of 25 Pennsylvania cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (41/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $108,200
    +6.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $836
    per month
    Household income
    $43,397
    median
    Unemployment
    7.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Erie

    The median home value in Erie is $108,200 and median rent is $836 a month, against a median household income of $43,397. Homes cost about 2.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Erie crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Pennsylvania the 2025 rate was 229 violent and 1,360 property crimes per 100,000 people — #34 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Erie, PA

    Erie has about 94,156 residents, 7.0% unemployment and 15% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Erie with

    Erie vs PhiladelphiaErie vs PittsburghErie vs AllentownErie vs ReadingErie vs BethlehemErie vs ScrantonErie vs LancasterErie vs Levittown

    More: Where to move in Pennsylvania · Best counties in Pennsylvania

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report