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Erie County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Erie County, Pennsylvania has a population of 269,544, the 15th most populous county in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $61,476 and the median home value is $169,500. The poverty rate is 15.4%.

Erie County Quick Facts

Population 269,544
Median Household Income $61,476
Median Home Value $169,500
Poverty Rate 15.4%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 40.1 years
Homeownership Rate 68.3%
Affordability Ratio 2.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 29.6%
High School Graduation 92.6%
Cities/Places 16
Population 269,544 15th of 67
Median Income $61,476 19% lower state
Poverty Rate 15.4%
Unemployment 5.5%

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3% | National: 5.2%
59.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.3%
Renter 31.7%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

31out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 43 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Erie County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Erie city94,156$43,39724.6%$108,200
Corry city6,162$45,08129.2%$99,800
Edinboro borough5,303$40,86224.6%$211,300
North East borough4,069$67,46916.0%$151,000
Wesleyville borough3,189$46,50617.8%$100,700
Girard borough2,979$72,4815.7%$168,100
Union City borough2,911$42,75421.0%$101,000
Lake City borough2,901$74,90910.9%$154,400
Albion borough1,269$54,08312.7%$131,000
Waterford borough1,254$58,87513.8%$163,000
Cranesville borough732$73,8247.2%$120,700
McKean borough494$69,58315.8%$198,000
Platea borough462$67,5009.7%$166,100
Mill Village borough372$59,6596.2%$128,600
Wattsburg borough340$44,87543.1%$101,700
Elgin borough211$59,4798.5%$88,600

Explore Pennsylvania Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Erie County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 269,544. It is the 15th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 16 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Erie County is 40.1 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Erie County is $61,476. This is 19% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 22% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $169,500. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $240,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Erie County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Erie County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.6%.

Education

29.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Erie County, Pennsylvania?

Erie County has a population of 269,544, making it the 15th most populous county in Pennsylvania.

What is the median income in Erie County?

The median household income in Erie County is $61,476 with a poverty rate of 15.4%.

How many cities are in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

Erie County contains 16 Census-designated places.