City Comparison
Erie vs Bethlehem
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Bethlehem scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Erie
Bethlehem
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Erie is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
17% lower than in Bethlehem.
Housing costs are a major driver: Erie's average rent is
42% lower than Bethlehem's.
| Metric | Erie | Bethlehem | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $1,800 | -42% |
| Groceries | $304 | $450 | -32% |
| Utilities | $406 | $227 | +79% |
| Transport | $398 | $60 | +563% |
| Healthcare | $152 | $250 | -39% |
| Monthly Total | $2,310 | $2,787 | -17% |
| Cost Index | 86 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Erie offers 40% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Erie delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Erie is estimated at
$60,000 vs $55,000 in Bethlehem.
| Metric | Erie | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $69,000 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 80,233 idx | 51,869 idx |
| Household Income | $46,113 | $68,879 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.5°F of each other.
For sunshine, Bethlehem comes out ahead with 54 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Erie sees 55.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Erie | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.70°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 78.00°F | 82.90°F |
| Winter Low | 21.70°F | 22.70°F |
| Rainfall | 50.30 in | 39.40 in |
| Snowfall | 73.90 in | 18.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 195 | 249 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Erie scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Erie leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Erie | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 60.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Erie is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Bethlehem.
From a growth perspective, Bethlehem is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Erie has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Erie | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 92,533 | 80,563 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.15% |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Erie
Advantages
Erie offers a cost of living that is 13.7% lower than the national average, with housing costs being particularly affordable.
The average rent in Erie is approximately $1,050 per month, significantly below the national average.
The average commute time in Erie is 19.6 minutes, considerably shorter than the U.S. average of 26.4 minutes.
Erie provides access to extensive outdoor recreation opportunities due to its location on Lake Erie and proximity to Presque Isle State Park.
Healthcare costs in Erie are approximately 12% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Erie has a higher crime rate than the average U.S. city, with a 'C-' overall crime grade and 'D-' for violent crime.
The city's population has been in decline, with a projected annual rate of change of -0.7% for 2026.
While some areas are walkable, Erie is generally considered car-dependent for most errands.
Utility costs in Erie are about 7% higher than the national average.
The median year of construction for homes in Erie is 1961, indicating an older housing stock that may require updates.
Bethlehem
Advantages
Bethlehem's population is projected to grow by 1.15% annually in 2026, indicating a growing and dynamic community.
The median household income in Bethlehem was $68,879 in 2024, showing a 3.67% one-year growth.
The average rent in Bethlehem is 5% below the national average as of September 2026, making it a more affordable place to live.
The median property value in Bethlehem increased by 10.1% in 2024, suggesting a healthy real estate market for homeowners.
The cost of home care in Bethlehem is approximately 16% lower than the Pennsylvania average and 22% lower than the national average as of September 2026.
Drawbacks
The poverty rate in Bethlehem was 15.69% in 2026.
While rent is generally affordable, it has increased by 3.4% in the past year as of September 2026.
The median individual income in Bethlehem was $36,225 in 2024, which is lower than the median household income.
Home prices fell about 2.4% a year between 2015 and 2024, an unusual pattern compared to rising rents.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Bethlehem grew by 5.37% between 2023 and 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Erie
#561Pennsylvania, USA
47.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$69,000
Cost Index
86
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
195/yr
Avg Temp
50.70°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
75
Business
65
Bethlehem
#295Pennsylvania, USA
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
95
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.15%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Erie and Bethlehem.
Open Cost Calculator