McKean, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 437, McKean's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

McKean is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Erie County. The total population is 437. It ranks as the 1410th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in McKean is 40.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. With 28.1% of the population under 18, McKean has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McKean is $71,667. This is 8% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $208,800. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, McKean is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

McKean has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.4%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 8.7%.

Education

29.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for McKean, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.