Living a College Town Lifestyle in Erie, Pennsylvania

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Where to Retire in Erie and Home Prices

Erie is made up of several neighborhoods, and the National Association of Realtors lists the median sale price at $159,700, in the 2nd quarter of 2022. There are homes costing over $1million, and many summer residences along the Lake Erie shoreline.

What Is Special about Erie

Located along the shores of Lake Erie, the town offers lots of outdoor recreation for all 4 seasons (including ice fishing and ice skating). It is a college town with Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, and Penn State Behrend all located here and each offer several cultural events and sporting events to attend. There are both professional and local theater productions, museums, galleries. Presque Isle State Park features beaches, boating and trails, with camping nearby. Politically, Erie County is pretty evenly split.

What Is Not Special about Erie

Can't ignore the lake effect snow and wind every winter. Erie received the most snow in the nation during the winter of 2017-2018, just under 200 inches. Erie's unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Job loss has hurt Erie, and GE who produced locomotives here for 100 years, laid off over 500 workers at the end of 2018.

Climate and Physical Environment

The average January temperature is 28 degrees, and July's average is 73 degrees. The city averages about 100 inches of snow during the winter months.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

There are many restaurants throughout Erie and close to Presque Isle State Park, including popular diners open just for the summer season to seafood restaurants that serve fresh Lake Erie perch. Culturally, Erie is home to the Erie Philharmonic which has been around since 1913, The Lake Erie Ballet, and the Erie Civic Music Association. There are also art museums, a zoo, and the Warner Theatre and the Erie Playhouse both of which host performances. Many sports teams make Erie their home which include a AA baseball team, a hockey team, and a NBA G league team. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center, located at Presque Isle, serves as a center for research and conservation of the peninsula.

Crime

The crime rate here is about the same as the national average.

Medical Facilities

Erie offers many medical facilities including Hamot and St. Vincent hospitals, Erie VA Medical Center, and Shriners Children's Hospital.

Transportation

Both I-90 and I-79 run through Erie which gives easy access to Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh; Tom Ridge Field is Erie's international airport; the "E" is Erie's transit bus system; Amtrak Lake Shore Limited has stops in Erie for those headed to NYC, Boston or Chicago.

Valuable Links

Visit Erie

Presque Isle

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