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METRO AREA

Erie Metro

Erie, PA · 1 counties · 265,832 residents (2025 est.) · 798.901 sq mi
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The short version

Erie has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,354. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $177,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
269,052
−4%since 2000
from 280,843 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
337 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 352 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+11%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:265,832 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
268K271K275K278K282K1990201020202024Erie
2024269K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,354
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,627 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,812
+100%since 2000
from $17,932 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.7%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
+5%since 2010
from 0.440 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$177,000
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$904
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.2% in 2000
31.9% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+24%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Erie 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%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.7%(219,947)
Black7%(18,707)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(12,851)
Asian2.2%(5,869)
Other4.3%(11,678)
Diversity Score40.3%(108,373)
Segregation Score41.8%(112,384)
Diversity Score
40
+93%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−7%since 2020
from 45 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.3%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.6 min
+70%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.9%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 15.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−87.1 ptssince 2013
from 91.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.0%
+12.6 ptssince 2017
from 76.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ErieCENTRAL91,838
What's inside

1 component county

Erie CountyCENTRAL265,832
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Erie

Laredo
Pop 281,224
Binghamton
Pop 243,189
Lynchburg
Pop 269,169
Lake Charles
Pop 244,655
Places similar to Erie
Head to head

Compare Erie side by side

ERIE VS
Laredo
Income$63,058same
Home value$189,900+7%
Population281,224+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Binghamton
Income$64,592+2%
Home value$156,052−12%
Population243,189−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Lynchburg
Income$67,702+7%
Home value$243,239+37%
Population269,169+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Lake Charles
Income$66,385+5%
Home value$208,042+18%
Population244,655−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Erie, PA?

Erie, PA has about 269,052 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Erie, PA?

The typical household in Erie, PA earns about $63,354 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Erie, PA expensive?

In Erie, PA, the median home is worth about $177,000, and the typical rent is about $904 a month.

How educated are people in Erie, PA?

About 30.3% of adults age 25 and over in Erie, PA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Erie, PA?

About 15.0% of people in Erie, PA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Erie, PA grown since 1990?

Yes, Erie, PA has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,520 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →