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City

Erie

#11 in Best Places to Live in Erie County
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • City in Pennsylvania
  • 271 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
Erie is a city in Pennsylvania with a population of 98,970. Erie is in Erie County. Living in Erie offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Erie there are a lot of bars and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Erie and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Erie are above average.
About Erie...
Population
98,970

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$87,000
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$679
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    49%
  • Own
    51%
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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
    173
    283
  • Murder
    6
    6
  • Rape
    33
    41
  • Robbery
    100
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    541
    500
  • Theft
    1,651
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    110
    284
Home Security Options for Erie
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    13%
  • 10-17 years
    10%
  • 18-24 years
    12%
  • 25-34 years
    15%
  • 35-44 years
    11%
  • 45-54 years
    13%
  • 55-64 years
    12%
  • 65+ years
    14%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    7%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    15%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    23%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    14%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

Working in Erie

Jobs
C+
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$35,802
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Erie
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Erie Reviews

271 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.
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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.