Erie vs Wilkes-Barre
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Both cities are evenly matched
Both cities offer similar value for rent vs buy decisions.
Median Home PriceTIE
$211,721.11
Median RentBETTER
$1,046.5/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.9
Property Tax RateTIE
1.54%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+6.4%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+32.2%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceBETTER
$34,583
Median Home PriceTIE
$213,661.16
Median Rent
$1,290.56/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
13.8
Property Tax RateTIE
1.54%
Price Change (1Y)
+4.1%
Price Change (5Y)
+20.4%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth Difference
$47,597
Key Differences
Home Prices
Erie's median home price of $211,721.11 is lower than Wilkes-Barre's $213,661.16 by 1%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Erie costs $1,046.5/mo compared to $1,290.56/mo in Wilkes-Barre—a difference of $244.06/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Break-even analysis varies based on market conditions in each city.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.