City Comparison
Erie vs Hazleton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Hazleton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Erie
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Erie is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
16% lower than in Hazleton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Erie's average rent is
22% lower than Hazleton's.
| Metric | Erie | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $1,350 | -22% |
| Groceries | $304 | $400 | -24% |
| Utilities | $406 | $349 | +16% |
| Transport | $398 | $360 | +11% |
| Healthcare | $152 | $293 | -48% |
| Monthly Total | $2,310 | $2,752 | -16% |
| Cost Index | 86 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Erie offers 39% 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 $45,000 in Hazleton.
| Metric | Erie | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $69,000 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 80,233 idx | 49,196 idx |
| Household Income | $46,113 | $46,177 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Erie runs warmer on average — a 50.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Erie comes out ahead with 195 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Erie sees 73.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Erie | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 78.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 21.70°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 50.30 in | in |
| Snowfall | 73.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 195 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 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 | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 60.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Erie is the larger city
— approximately 2.8x the population of Hazleton.
From a growth perspective, Hazleton 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 | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 92,533 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 7.40% |
| 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.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
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
Hazleton
#516Pennsylvania, USA
51.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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