Population 2,784 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Erie
Household size in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.66 | 2.43 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.54 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.48 | 2.34 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.59 | 2.31 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.12 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Downtown Erie is a place of small households, averaging 1.59 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Downtown Erie has the smallest households of any Erie neighborhood.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 38.0 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 38.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.5 | 39.4 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 39.8 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.6 | +1.8 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Downtown Erie skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.4, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Only one other Erie neighborhood is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 13.5% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 13.6% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 14.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 13.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Downtown Erie: 17.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Erie
Renters in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.0% | 36.5% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 39.5% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 39.8% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 38.4% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown Erie rent: 93.8% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Nearly two-thirds of owners (63.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. No other Erie neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 9.9% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.1% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 10.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.1% of the housing in Downtown Erie, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. No other Erie neighborhood has a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1958 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1959 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1959 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1961 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Downtown Erie is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Compared with other Erie neighborhoods, though, Downtown Erie has newer homes than most.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $478 | $694 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $480 | $769 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $492 | $858 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $755 | $1,021 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$277 | +$328 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown Erie costs $755 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other Erie neighborhood has lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Erie
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 23.9% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 26.5% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 28.8% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.1% | 30.2% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | +6.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Downtown Erie than nationally: 27.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.7% | 88.4% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.8% | 89.5% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.7% | 90.0% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.7% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in Downtown Erie never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Downtown Erie has a lower share of high school graduates than most Erie neighborhoods.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Erie
| Period | Downtown Erie | Erie | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 8.5% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Downtown Erie: 14.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of Erie's 13 neighborhoods, only two have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Erie compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Erie | 1.59 | 42.0 | 17.4% | 93.8% | 16.1% | 1956 | $755 | 27.1% | 86.7% | 14.7% |
| East Erie | 2.44 | 30.4 | 26.0% | 66.7% | 11.9% | 1939 | $895 | 11.7% | 75.4% | 11.3% |
| Little Italy | 2.11 | 41.1 | 18.1% | 73.9% | 11.9% | 1941 | $901 | 11.7% | 86.3% | 8.2% |
| Bayfront | 2.24 | 30.2 | 25.4% | 63.4% | 15.1% | 1941 | $957 | 31.6% | 96.5% | 7.4% |
| Central Eastside | 2.35 | 39.2 | 34.9% | 57.0% | 7.8% | 1949 | $998 | 13.7% | 78.3% | 25.1% |
| West Side Squires | 2.23 | 32.4 | 14.7% | 45.4% | 7.7% | 1941 | $946 | 18.6% | 93.0% | 14.9% |
| Marvintown | 2.81 | 34.1 | 10.8% | 36.9% | 7.2% | 1941 | $1,014 | 29.9% | 87.1% | 5.9% |
| Southeast Erie | 2.26 | 39.6 | 10.4% | 16.3% | 8.6% | 1955 | $962 | 20.1% | 88.8% | 7.2% |
| South East Hills | 1.86 | 28.7 | 6.3% | 30.6% | 13.0% | 1966 | $1,077 | 33.1% | 98.5% | 6.2% |
| Robbins Blass | 2.34 | 38.0 | 21.1% | 24.9% | 8.4% | 1953 | $1,002 | 27.3% | 94.2% | 4.9% |
| Belle Valley | 2.48 | 39.1 | 13.6% | 38.1% | 5.1% | 1984 | $1,058 | 27.6% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Downtown Belle Glade, Belle Glade, FL · Arnold Heights, Lincoln, NE · Bernon Heights, Woonsocket, RI · Buckingham Park, Willingboro, NJ · Clanton Park-Roseland, Charlotte, NC · Downtown Pomona, Pomona, CA · Isle of Palms, Jacksonville Beach, FL · Bellalago, Kissimmee, FL · Kabrich Crescent, Blacksburg, VA · Lakeview Terrace, Kansas City, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Erie. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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