%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All comparisons

Scranton vs Erie for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Scranton, PA and Erie, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Scranton wins 6–1 across key metrics
Scranton leads on cash flow (5.32% vs 5.07% cap rate)
Metric
Scranton, PA
Erie, PA
Est. Cap Rate
5.32%
5.07%
Median Home Price
$145,000
$135,000
Median Monthly Rent
$980
$880
1% Rule
0.68%
0.65%
GRM
12.3x
12.8x
Price / Income
3.6x
3.5x
Property Tax Rate
1.44%
1.4%
Vacancy Rate
6.8%
7%
Population Growth
-0.2% / yr
-0.4% / yr
Annual Appreciation
1.9%
1.7%
Population
76,089
94,000
Median Income
$40,200
$38,200

Scranton vs Erie: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Scranton has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.32% compared to Erie's 5.07%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $145,000 in Scranton vs $135,000 in Erie, while rents come in at $980/mo and $880/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Scranton is growing faster at -0.2% annually, while Erie is losing population. Scranton leads on home value appreciation at 1.9% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.44% in Scranton vs 1.4% in Erie. Vacancy rates of 6.8% and 7% are mixed — Scranton has the tighter rental market.

Bottom line: Scranton edges out Erie on most key metrics. With a 5.32% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Scranton or Erie.

Scranton, PA
5.32% cap rate · $145,000 median · $980/mo
Full analysis →
Erie, PA
5.07% cap rate · $135,000 median · $880/mo
Full analysis →
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.