1st Advantage MortgageIn Erie County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $63,354 a year and the typical rent is $904. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Pennsylvania license first.
On this page
- Erie County, PA: the basics
- How much Erie County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Erie County
- Renting and owning in Erie County
- Counties near Erie County
- Places inside Erie County
- A Erie County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Erie County borrowers
- Erie County households compared
- Lender oversight for Erie County
- A Erie County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Erie County
- Frequently asked questions
Erie County, PA: the basics
Erie County is home to about 269,052 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. It covers 799 square miles of land, or about 337 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Erie, PA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 21 places in the county (16 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Erie, with about 93,850 residents, or 35% of the county.
How much Erie County households make
The median household income in Erie County is $63,354; statewide it is $77,971, so Erie County runs 19% below Pennsylvania as a whole. Only 44 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Band | Erie County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -5.1 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.0% of Erie County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Erie County
The biggest employer of Erie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Erie County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 9.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Erie County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -3.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.8% | +0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Erie County
Renters in Erie County pay a median of $904 a month, 25% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $177,000, a typical Erie County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1964.
| Measure | Erie County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $904/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,000 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
Counties near Erie County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 57 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Erie County; Venango County is highest at $61,522 and Ashtabula County lowest at $57,728. Some neighbors are in New York and Ohio. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Erie County resident follows Pennsylvania rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie County | - | $63,354 | $904/mo | 68% |
| Crawford County, PA | 30 mi | $60,476 | $802/mo | 75% |
| Ashtabula County, OH | 36 mi | $57,728 | $828/mo | 76% |
| Chautauqua County, NY | 38 mi | $58,351 | $812/mo | 69% |
| Warren County, PA | 45 mi | $60,480 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Venango County, PA | 52 mi | $61,522 | $795/mo | 75% |
| Mercer County, PA | 57 mi | $59,976 | $843/mo | 72% |
Places inside Erie County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 21 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Erie County residents live in one of the 21. Incomes vary by place: $99,931 at the median in Avonia, $44,004 in Union City. Median rent ranges from $592 in Albion to $1,551 in Fairview. None of the 21 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | city | 93,850 | $46,113 | $870 | 1 mi |
| Northwest Harborcreek | CDP | 8,753 | $93,617 | $966 | 6 mi |
| Corry | city | 6,116 | $48,618 | $802 | 27 mi |
| Edinboro | borough | 5,440 | $48,173 | $876 | 17 mi |
| North East | borough | 4,054 | $68,828 | $769 | 15 mi |
| Lawrence Park | CDP | 3,775 | $74,548 | $1,195 | 4 mi |
| Wesleyville | borough | 3,179 | $48,952 | $870 | 5 mi |
| Girard | borough | 2,962 | $71,165 | $667 | 14 mi |
| Lake City | borough | 2,895 | $75,048 | $871 | 15 mi |
| Union City | borough | 2,887 | $44,004 | $731 | 20 mi |
| Fairview | CDP | 2,691 | $86,645 | $1,551 | 10 mi |
| Avonia | CDP | 1,793 | $99,931 | $1,358 | 11 mi |
| Penn State Erie (Behrend) | CDP | 1,607 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Waterford | borough | 1,301 | $51,250 | $1,003 | 13 mi |
A Erie County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Erie County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,280 a month: gross income for a household at the Erie County median
- Housing at the median rent of $904 uses 17%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,270 total minus rent leaves $1,366
Two-income households and single earners in Erie County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Erie County borrowers
Where the Erie County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Erie County households compared
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Indicator | Erie County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.9% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Erie County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Lender oversight for Erie County
Erie County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
A Erie County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Erie County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Erie County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Erie County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Pennsylvania borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Erie County
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Erie County earn?
The median is $63,354; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Erie County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$904 locally versus $1,209 for the state, 25% below.
I live in a small Erie County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Erie, Northwest Harborcreek, Corry, Edinboro, North East and 16 more.
Can Erie County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Pennsylvania county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Erie County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.