2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Erie, PA vs Santa Cruz, CA

#9 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#71 Best Green Cities

#309 2005 Best Places to Live

#18 Most Competitive Public Colleges

#27 Best Green Cities

#41 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#124 2005 Best Places to Live

Erie is a hidden gem with something for everyone. Presque isle state park draws about as many visitors as Yellowstone and more than My. Rushmore. Outdoors are covered  More

I've lived in Erie for 13 years. PROS: - Presque Isle - Shopping options on Peach Street - Great fishing - The Otters and SeaWolves - Decent food scene - 3  More

I've lived in numerous cities and towns around the country and traveled to countless others. Erie, PA remains, surprisingly, my favorite place to live, work and play.  More

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More