Skip to Main Content
vanhoosear / CC BY-SA
City

Erie

#11 in Best Places to Live in Erie County
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • City in Pennsylvania
  • 258 reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B-
  2. Crime & Safety
    C
  3. Housing
    B-
  4. Nightlife
    A-
  5. Good for Families
    B
  6. Diversity
    A-
  7. Jobs
    C+
  8. Weather
    C
  9. Cost of Living
    B
  10. Health & Fitness
    B
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A-
  12. Commute
    A
View Full Report Card
About Erie...
Population
100,157

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$86,700
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$662
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    49%
  • Own
    51%
Sponsored Mortgage Options for Erie
Learn More
  • America's Top Mortgage Lender - Rated A+ by the BBB
  • Closes Purchase Loans in 14 Business Days. Supports Non-Traditional Credit Profiles
Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

Erie Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    184
    283
  • Murder
    10
    6
  • Rape
    57
    41
  • Robbery
    116
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    573
    500
  • Theft
    1,623
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    105
    284
Home Security Options for Erie
Learn More
  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$35,205
National
$55,322
Children
19%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    7%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    15%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    24%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    13%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

Jobs in Erie

Job Search by
No job listings match your search criteria.
Places like Erie
More

Erie Reviews

258 reviews
All Categories
I moved to Erie to continue going to school. While the cost of living was higher than I expected, I still acquired a job and place to live with relative ease. The location of this city has been my favorite part of living here so far as it is not far from Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Cleveland, making it a prime location for travelling to other areas. I have also been able to enjoy many outdoor activities living in this area as Presque Isle offers a safe place to get outside and Allegheny State Park is within a reasonable driving distance. The local culture and small businesses are also another enjoyable feature with many start ups all over that are easy to support because the service is amazing.
While I do not intend to stay here very long, I would highly recommend living in Erie to anyone that is okay with the amount of snow they get! It seems to be a great place to raise a family as there are many schools and higher educational institutions.
Start Your Review of Erie
Rate It!
I've lived in Erie, PA my entire life, this is my one and only home. Its absolutely beautiful here! Lake Erie to the night life and of course the sunsets over the water are the highlights. If your looking to come for the famous known Smith hot-dogs or the famous amusement park Waldameer and Water world, you'll have the time of your life. My city has a lot of diversity because our universities and tourist attractions, and I would love to see more tour boats more like the Victorian Princess Cruise Line. The Victorian Princess allows you to go out on the water and have a formal meal with loved ones or friends. It ships out at different times so the choice is yours. Just spending nice warm days on the dock feeding the geese and fish, is unforgettable. If anyone is looking to relax or enjoy being at the water come and visit us in Erie! Although the city is small I enjoy seeing new faces and the yearly events downtown.
From personal experience, I can say that Erie is a lot like a small town in terms of community, but like a big city in terms of things to do. We have many events such as discover Presque Isle, Roar on the Shore, an exciting Nightlife (Sullivan's, Docksiders, Plymouth tavern, etc.), Opportunity for great continuing education (Gannon, Mercyhurst, Penn State Behrend, Toni and Guy, Triangle Tech, Great Lakes IT), as well as diverse restaurant choices, the Millcreek Mall, Vertical Jump Park, etc. You get the sense of Community, you're close to many major cities, and it's easy to go on a country retreat if you want. I highly recommend singles and families alike to consider making erie their home, as I intend to do.