Best Life Index › States › Pennsylvania › Cities › Erie

Pennsylvania city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Erie?

What it costs to live in Erie, and how it compares with other Pennsylvania cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

41

33rd best value in Pennsylvania

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Pennsylvania cities.

Overall livability

37

32nd overall in Pennsylvania

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Erie is home to about 95,536 people. A typical home runs $91,300 and a household earns around $40,200, a price-to-income ratio of 2.3. Among Pennsylvania's largest cities, it ranks 33rd for value and 32nd overall.

Erie at a glance

Median home price

$91,300

16th in PA of 44

Median rent

$754/mo

Median household income

$40,200

Home price to income

2.3x

Unemployment

7.8%

32nd in PA of 44

School rating

2/10

31st in PA of 44

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in PA of 44

Walk score

10/100

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‹ See all top Pennsylvania cities ranked  ยท  Pennsylvania state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Pennsylvania only. Updated 2026.