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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Erie County

Pennsylvania · 270,876 residents · 798.901 sq mi
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The short version

Erie County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,863. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $138,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.8
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
270,876
−4%since 2000
from 280,843 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
339 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 352 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.6
+12%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
268K271K275K278K282K1990201020202024Erie County
2024269K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,863
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,627 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,001
+62%since 2000
from $17,932 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
33.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.9%
US avg: 10%
Information10.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$138,500
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$758
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
65.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.2% in 2000
34.2% rent
Afford Score
2.6
+16%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Erie County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.8%(252,258)
Black6%(16,876)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(6,126)
Asian0.7%(1,902)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.9%(58,763)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(219,180)
Black7.3%(19,821)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(12,030)
Asian2.3%(6,358)
Other3.3%(8,931)
Diversity Score39.2%(106,118)
Segregation Score44.9%(121,751)
Diversity Score
39
+87%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
45
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.5%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+72%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
10.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 62.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.8%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
4.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.5%
−86.8 ptssince 2013
from 91.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Erie County

Alachua County
Pop 290,028
St. Joseph County
Pop 272,861
Winnebago County
Pop 283,674
Ingham County
Pop 289,709
Places similar to Erie County
Head to head

Compare Erie County to nearby counties

ERIE COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income$60,476+14%
Home value$153,200+11%
Population81,792−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE COUNTY VS
Ashtabula County
Income$57,728+9%
Home value$159,500+15%
Population96,713−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE COUNTY VS
Chautauqua County
Income$58,351+10%
Home value$127,900−8%
Population124,126−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$60,480+14%
Home value$127,500−8%
Population37,038−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

Erie County, Pennsylvania has about 270,876 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Erie County, Pennsylvania earns about $52,863 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Erie County, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Erie County, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $138,500, and the typical rent is about $758 a month.

How educated are people in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

About 28.7% of adults age 25 and over in Erie County, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

About 15.5% of people in Erie County, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Erie County, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Erie County, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,696 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

74 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 112.02Census Tract 121Census Tract 110.01Census Tract 109.03Census Tract 28Census Tract 27Census Tract 119Census Tract 122.01Census Tract 102.01Census Tract 103.03Census Tract 111.01Census Tract 117.02Census Tract 103.04Census Tract 122.02Census Tract 102.02Census Tract 109.04Census Tract 115.08Census Tract 103.01Census Tract 112.01Census Tract 110.02
33 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 16509ZIP 16510ZIP 16506ZIP 16502ZIP 16504ZIP 16503ZIP 16505ZIP 16508ZIP 16428ZIP 16511ZIP 16407ZIP 16415ZIP 16412ZIP 16441ZIP 16417ZIP 16507ZIP 16438ZIP 16423ZIP 16401ZIP 16426ZIP 16442ZIP 16421ZIP 16475ZIP 16501ZIP 16410ZIP 16563ZIP 16411ZIP 16443ZIP 16444ZIP 16546
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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