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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Erie Metro

Erie, PA · 1 counties · 270,876 residents · 798.901 sq mi
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The short version

Erie 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
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 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%
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$63,058+19%
Home value$189,900+37%
Population281,224+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Binghamton
Income$64,592+22%
Home value$156,052+13%
Population243,189−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Lynchburg
Income$67,702+28%
Home value$243,239+76%
Population269,169+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ERIE VS
Lake Charles
Income$66,385+26%
Home value$208,042+50%
Population244,655−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Erie, PA?

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

What is the median household income in Erie, PA?

The typical household in Erie, PA earns about $52,863 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 $138,500, and the typical rent is about $758 a month.

How educated are people in Erie, PA?

About 28.7% 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 15.5% 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 4,696 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

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