Side-by-side comparison of Erie, PA and Pittsburgh, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Erie has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.07% compared to Pittsburgh's 4.25%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $135,000 in Erie vs $220,000 in Pittsburgh, while rents come in at $880/mo and $1,250/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Pittsburgh is growing faster at 0.2% annually, while Erie is losing population. Pittsburgh leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.4% in Erie vs 1.36% in Pittsburgh. Vacancy rates of 7% and 6% are mixed — Pittsburgh has the tighter rental market.
Bottom line: Pittsburgh edges out Erie on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.25%, Pittsburgh's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Erie or Pittsburgh.