Moving to Erie

Once known for its steel mills and heavy industry, Erie, Pa., is now a mid-size city full of small-town charm with an aﬀordable cost of living – one of the lowest anywhere in the country.

Erie, nestled in the most northern point of Pennsylvania and on the more eastern shoreline of Lake Erie, has several nicknames for its prime lakefront locale. Once the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship Niagara, it is referred to as the "Flagship City." The Niagara was the wooden-hulled ship that helped defeat the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. It is also called “Gem City” after Lake Erie’s gem-like appearance on a sunny day.

Erie residents are quick to tell you that being a mid-sized city has its privileges, like low crime rates and great schools. Living costs in Erie are about 10% lower than the national average and 10% less than in Pittsburgh, which is about two hours away.

A growing economy and community

Erie is in Erie County, along the shoreline of Lake Erie, and has a census population of roughly 93,000, making it the fifth most populous city in Pennsylvania.

The city was named for the Native American Erie people who lived in the area until the mid-17th century.

Manufacturing continues to be a key pillar of Erie’s economy, with sectors such as insurance, healthcare, academia, technology, services and tourism gaining traction as significant contributors to growth. Like other Great Lakes port cities, Erie is accessible to the Atlantic Ocean via the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River network in Canada.

Leading corporations include Erie Indemnity Co., UPMC Hamot, Wabtec US Rail Inc. and Saint Vincent Health Center.

Thinking about making the move? Here’s everything you need to know to make the transition easier, from finding an Erie, Pennsylvania, electricity supplier or healthcare provider, to getting to know the neighbors.

The choice is yours: Compare Erie electric rates, and pick your energy provider

The ability to choose your energy supplier is a significant advantage for those moving to Erie. Whether you’re coming from out of state or moving from within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to include this opportunity on your to-do list.

Pennsylvania is an Energy Choice state, which means residents have the freedom to compare electric companies and choose the electricity supplier and plan that best fits their needs. That could be a fixed-rate plan to make monthly budgeting easier, or selecting a supplier that oﬀers environmentally-friendly clean energy.

How electricity reaches your home

If you live in Erie, you can choose your supplier, sometimes called Electric Generation Suppliers, or EGSs. These suppliers are certified by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and oﬀer alternative competitive prices, clean energy options and other services or incentives. Energy Harbor, for example, is an EGS.

It’s easy to compare energy providers. Erie residents still receive the same bill from their utility company, most likely Penelec, making the transition even easier. Other Pennsylvania electricity companies include PECO, West Penn Power, Constellation, Penn Power, Met-ed and PPL Electric Utilities Corp. If there is an electric outage in Erie, Pa., this is who you call.

Do these 5 things before moving to Erie

From picking an electric company to visiting the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, getting a jump start on move-in tasks will make the transition to Erie even easier.

1. Inform your insurance provider: Talk to your insurance company to discuss both homeowner’s and auto policy options. Laws governing how insurance providers operate vary from state to state, so moving to Erie may require updated policies – and maybe a new insurance provider.

2. Set up home energy services: Don’t forget to compare energy solutions before connecting with your gas and electric utility. You might miss out on competitive fixed-rate plans that can help eliminate rate surprises on your electricity bills. If you want to save even more, consider other ways to lower your energy bill.

3. Forward your mail and update your address online: Set up mail forwarding before you hop in the moving van. It’s as simple as filling out a Change of Address e-form at USPS.com. Then update your shipping address with online stores, subscription services and delivery apps. Nothing’s worse than having DoorDash deliver your move-in meal to your old address.

4. Turn on cable and internet: Not as vital as electric power but find time before your move to choose a communications provider and establish internet and WiFi services. With WiFi up and running on Day 1, you can unwind with your favorite streaming show or knock out some remote work on Day 2.

5. Visit the DMV: Soon after you’re settled, find the closest Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles branch and take time to register your vehicle and get a new license. Visit Pennsylvania’s DMV website to choose a branch, review DMV services and learn more about Pennsylvania traﬃc laws.

Seagulls and Snowballs

The more you learn about Erie, the more you’re delighted by the town along the lakeshore. Here are fun fascinating facts about your new hometown:

1. Winter Wonderland: Erie is one of the snowiest cities in the United States, averaging 104.3 inches of snow per year. In 2013–2014, Erie won first place in the Golden Snow Globe National Snow Contest after receiving 123.9 inches of snow.

2. Popular Park: Erie is home to PA's most-visited state park. Presque Isle has beautiful beaches, hiking trails and lagoons. It's why the park is visited by over 5 million people every year.

3. Oldie But a Goodie: Erie is home to Waldameer Park and Waterworld. Established in 1895, it’s the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and the 11th oldest in the U.S. Today, Waldameer & Water World has over 100 rides, slides and attractions.

Discover Something Interesting

1. Dig Deeper: Erie is home to the Sommerheim Park Archaeological District, a collection of archaeological sites along the lake that revealed artifacts from the Archaic period (8,000-1,000 BCE). Archaeologists found evidence of nomadic hunters exploring Erie during the Paleoindian period between 12,000 and 10,000 B.C.E when humans first appeared in North American archeological records.

2. Lights, Camera, Action: Some major films and television shows have been shot using Erie as the backdrop. Perhaps the two most prominent are ”The Road,” based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, and ”On the Road,” adapted from Jack Kerouac’s famous travel tales. Most recently, Paramount Plus filmed scenes for season two of “The Mayor of Kingstown” in and around Erie.

3. Cat Nation: The Eriez Indians were indigenous people who lived on the south shores of Lake Erie. They were also known as Cat Nation, which many historians believe refers to raccoons rather than felines, which were abundant in the region. In the mid-17th century, the Iroquois Indians overpowered the Eriez.

Here’s a full list of zip codes in the Erie area we serve:

16401, 16407, 16410, 16411, 16412, 16413, 16415, 16417, 16421, 16423, 16426, 16427, 16428, 16430, 16438, 16441, 16442, 16443, 16444, 16475, 16501, 16502, 16503, 16504, 16505, 16506, 16507, 16508, 16509, 16510, 16511, 16515, 16534, 16541, 16544, 16546, 16550, 16563, 16565, 16512, 16514, 16522, 16530, 16531, 16538, 16553