Population 556 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Ernest
Household size in Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.11 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.76 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.28 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Ernest is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania. Household size has climbed from 2.11 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.4 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.2 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.2, Ernest is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ernest: 6.6% of 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 Ernest
Renters in Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Ernest rent their homes (29.0%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania. More than half of owners (55.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Ernest: 13.9% of homes are empty, 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.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1944 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1944 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1943 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Ernest is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1956, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $652 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $676 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $804 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $709 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$57 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ernest costs $709 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 27.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Ernest
Bachelor's degrees in Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Ernest than nationally: 25.7% 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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ernest is a bit above the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania.
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 Ernest
| Period | Ernest | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.4% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Ernest: 12.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Ernest compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest | 2.39 | 50.2 | 6.6% | 29.0% | 13.9% | 1956 | $709 | 25.7% | 90.8% | 12.7% |
| Chambersville | 2.55 | 48.1 | 5.8% | 20.0% | 15.2% | 1963 | $706 | 18.7% | 91.7% | 7.4% |
| Fulton Run | 2.34 | 48.1 | 7.0% | 25.0% | 10.9% | 1970 | $759 | 17.9% | 93.7% | 7.5% |
| Indiana | 2.15 | 38.9 | 5.8% | 42.9% | 17.8% | 1971 | $825 | 40.6% | 95.8% | 6.9% |
| Creekside | 2.56 | 47.0 | 5.7% | 13.2% | 14.3% | 1970 | $725 | 13.5% | 93.3% | 3.8% |
| Tanoma | 2.41 | 42.9 | 5.1% | 9.6% | 5.7% | 1975 | $755 | 25.3% | 98.0% | 4.6% |
| Home | 2.83 | 39.2 | 7.0% | 15.6% | 11.6% | 1973 | $711 | 18.4% | 92.2% | 7.2% |
| Atwood | 2.70 | 38.0 | 4.1% | 14.8% | 11.0% | 1966 | $940 | 5.7% | 88.3% | 7.3% |
| Sample Run | 2.65 | 52.9 | 2.6% | 11.5% | 10.4% | 1978 | $775 | 18.8% | 91.0% | 4.2% |
| Lucerne Mines | 2.48 | 53.0 | 2.1% | 13.8% | 9.5% | 1973 | $887 | 33.7% | 96.2% | 18.9% |
| Beyer | 2.95 | 35.7 | 4.8% | 13.5% | 11.4% | 1971 | $805 | 9.4% | 87.0% | 8.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kosciusko, TX · Roaring Spring, KY · Rixies, NV · Liscomb, IA · Layman, OH · Laws, CA · Lambert, MT · Lakeland Beach, OH · Lake Marian Highlands, FL · Lagrange, ME
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 Ernest. 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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