Population 269,052 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Erie County
Household size in Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Erie County is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.49, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Erie County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Erie County than nationally: 12.7%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only six of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Erie County
Renters in Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.8% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Erie County is about as common as it is nationally: 31.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 48.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.1 points, as it has nationally.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Erie County is close to the national rate: 9.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Erie County has a lower vacancy rate than most Pennsylvania counties.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Erie County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $675 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $747 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $833 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $991 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$315 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in Erie County pays $991 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $315 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the west.
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 Erie County
Bachelor's degrees in Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Erie County than nationally: 30.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.1% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Erie County is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Pennsylvania. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 Erie County
| Period | Erie County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Erie County is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Erie County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie County | 2.37 | 41.5 | 12.7% | 31.9% | 9.7% | 1965 | $991 | 30.4% | 92.7% | 5.5% |
| Chemung County | 2.27 | 42.8 | 12.2% | 31.6% | 10.9% | 1957 | $1,117 | 27.5% | 90.8% | 5.9% |
| Monroe County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 10.3% | 18.3% | 6.7% | 1975 | $1,076 | 23.5% | 91.8% | 5.1% |
| Tioga County | 2.36 | 44.4 | 12.6% | 20.9% | 8.1% | 1966 | $1,014 | 25.0% | 91.1% | 5.5% |
| Lenawee County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 20.4% | 10.3% | 1966 | $1,014 | 22.8% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| Broome County | 2.36 | 41.0 | 12.4% | 35.5% | 13.0% | 1960 | $1,042 | 31.7% | 90.7% | 6.9% |
| Hillsdale County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 18.0% | 16.0% | 1967 | $884 | 21.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Branch County | 2.66 | 41.3 | 11.0% | 22.3% | 16.2% | 1965 | $971 | 16.8% | 88.0% | 5.7% |
| Berrien County | 2.41 | 43.3 | 12.2% | 27.2% | 13.1% | 1967 | $1,052 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 6.2% |
| Hampden County | 2.51 | 40.7 | 15.3% | 37.8% | 7.7% | 1958 | $1,261 | 29.0% | 86.7% | 6.3% |
| Kane County | 2.88 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 24.0% | 4.4% | 1981 | $1,711 | 37.9% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Galveston County, TX · Albany County, NY · Anoka County, MN · Rockland County, NY · Rutherford County, TN · San Juan Municipio, PR · Weld County, CO · Bell County, TX · Boulder County, CO · Niagara County, NY
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 Erie County. 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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