The Best Home Security Systems in Erie County, PA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Erie County, PA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Erie County, PA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Erie County every 3 hours 8 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Erie County experiences 10.22 property crimes per 1000 people and 9.261 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Erie County, PA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Erie County. The combination of a high amount of renters (31%) and education level (29% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Erie County, PA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Erie County, PA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Erie County, PA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Erie County, PA
Our analysis gives Erie County a property crime grade of: C-. Erie County is in the 64th percentile of safety, meaning 64% of cities in Pennsylvania are safer and 36% are more dangerous. Please visit our Erie County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the northern part of Erie County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 69. Compare this to the eastern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 232.
D
D+ |
|
C- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
F |
A crime occurs every 1 hour 14 minutes (on average) in Erie County, PA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Erie County safe? Compared to all of Pennsylvania, Erie County is rated as safe as the average Pennsylvania county, which has a property crime rate of 16.10 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Erie County, with its burglary rate of 3.459 per 1000, is as safe as the average Pennsylvania county.
In addition, Erie County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Erie County, PA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Erie County, PA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
5.737 |
1,564 |
30.1 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.8839 |
241 |
4.6 |
Burglary |
3.459 |
943 |
18.1 |
Arson |
0.1436 |
39 |
0.8 |
Weather and Climate in Erie County, PA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Erie County, PA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Erie County, PA is 46.89 degrees, reaching 83.78 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 81.08 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Erie County was built in 1968, which is much older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Pennsylvania build in 1970.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Erie County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Erie County, PA
Erie County, PA gets an average rainfall of 1.6" per year. This is higher than the average of 1.2" for Pennsylvania.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Erie County, PA
Erie County, PA reaches an average of 29.17 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 38.61 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Erie County is 55 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Pennsylvania home that's 53 years old and much more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Erie County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Erie County, PA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Erie County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 31.00% (83,974) of people in Erie County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 69.00% or 186,902 of Erie County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 85% of people who commute an average of 24 minutes to work in or around Erie County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 5% of Erie County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Erie County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $62,199 annually. In addition, 29.5% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Erie County is $146,850. Compared to the median home value in Pennsylvania of $222,630, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Erie County, PA
There are 36 police stations within the boundaries of Erie County, and 15 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Erie County center, there are 92 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Erie County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Pennsylvania Department Of State Police 8349 Perry Highway Erie, PA 16509 (585) 458-3420 chambersburgdui.com |
Drug Control Bureau 4801 Atlantic Avenue Erie, PA 16506 (814) 836-4300 attorneygeneral.gov |
Drug Control Bureau 1309 French St Erie, PA 16501 (814) 871-4321 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Erie County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Erie County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemung County, NY | C- | C- | about as safe |
| Monroe County, MI | D+ | F | less safe |
| Tioga County, NY | A+ | B+ | more safe |
| Lenawee County, MI | C | C+ | about as safe |
| Broome County, NY | C | B- | more safe |
| Hillsdale County, MI | B | B+ | more safe |
| Branch County, MI | C | C+ | about as safe |
| Berrien County, MI | B- | C+ | more safe |
| Hampden County, MA | B- | D | more safe |
| Kane County, IL | A- | A | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Erie County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Erie County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston County, TX | B | C | more safe |
| Albany County, NY | F | F | less safe |
| Anoka County, MN | C+ | C+ | more safe |
| Rockland County, NY | A- | A | more safe |
| Rutherford County, TN | B- | B+ | more safe |
| San Juan Municipio, PR | D- | D- | less safe |
| Weld County, CO | A | C | more safe |
| Bell County, TX | B- | B | more safe |
| Boulder County, CO | C | B | more safe |
| Niagara County, NY | A- | D | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Erie County, PA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Erie County, PA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Erie County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, Ring, and ADT have emerged as the top choices for Erie County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Erie County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 3 hours 8 minutes in Erie County.
- The county experiences 10.22 property crimes and 9.261 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Erie County's property crime grade stands at an 'C-', comparably as safe as other Pennsylvania {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Erie County. The combination of a high amount of renters (31%) and education level (29% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 83.78 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 29.17 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.6" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 55 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 31.00% of Erie County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 85% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Erie County's lower household median income of $62,199 and 29.5% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Erie County hosts 36 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.