Erie County, PA

County

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2023 Population

269,544

0.352% 1-year decline

US Senator

John Fetterman

Democratic Party

US Senator

Dave McCormick

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

40.1

0.501% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

15.4%

0.119% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$61,476

3.5% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$169,500

5.81% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

122,520

1.5% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Erie County, PA had a population of 270k people with a median age of 40.1 and a median household income of $61,476. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Erie County, PA declined from 270,495 to 269,544, a −0.352% decrease and its median household income grew from $59,396 to $61,476, a 3.5% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Erie County, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (82.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (6.62%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.96%), Two+ (Hispanic) (2.24%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.96%).

None of the households in Erie County, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.1% of the residents in Erie County, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Erie County, PA are Gannon University (1,433 degrees awarded in 2023), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (1,088 degrees), and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (863 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Erie County, PA was $169,500, and the homeownership rate was 68.3%.

Most people in Erie County, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 19.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Erie County, PA was 2 cars per household.

Erie County, PA borders Chautauqua County, NY, Ashtabula County, OH, Crawford County, PA, and Warren County, PA.

About the photo: Erie Harbor Pierhead Lighthouse, Erie, PA

Photo by Andrej Baran

United States Pennsylvania Erie, PA

Population & Diversity

Erie County, PA is home to a population of 270k people, from which 98.1% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.13% of Erie County, PA residents were born outside of the country (11.1k people).

In 2023, there were 12.4 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (222k people) in Erie County, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 17.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 10.7k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.1%

2023 Citizenship

98.1%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 98.1% of Erie County, PA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Erie County, PA was 98.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Erie County, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Erie County, PA

White (Non-Hispanic)
222k ± 669
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
17.8k ± 769
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
10.7k ± 947

4.63%

Hispanic Population

12.5k people

4.63% of the people in Erie County, PA are hispanic (12.5k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Erie County, PA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Pennsylvania.

Most Common Origin

India
99,082 ± 7,698 people
Dominican Republic
90,229 ± 7,349 people
China
69,880 ± 6,473 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Pennsylvania was India, the natal country of 99,082 Pennsylvania residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 90,229 and China with 69,880.

Foreign-Born Population

4.13%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

11.1k people

4.08%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

11k people

As of 2023, 4.13% of Erie County, PA residents (11.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Erie County, PA was 4.08%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Erie County, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
5,431 ± 392
Gulf War (2001-)
2,869 ± 413
Gulf War (1990s)
2,082 ± 272

Erie County, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.89 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Erie County, PA employs 123k people. The largest industries in Erie County, PA are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,801 people), Manufacturing (18,951 people), and Retail Trade (12,921 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($71,371), Public Administration ($58,068), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($57,258).

Males in Pennsylvania have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $62,610. The income inequality in Pennsylvania (measured using the Gini index) is 0.466, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

123k

2023 Value

± 2,676

−1.5%

1 Year decline

± 3.12%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Erie County, PA declined at a rate of −1.5%, from 124k employees to 123k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Erie County, PA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,862 people), Management Occupations (12,504 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (10,555 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Erie County, PA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Pennsylvania (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

123k

2023 Value

± 2,676

−1.5%

1 Year decline

± 3.12%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Erie County, PA declined at a rate of −1.5%, from 124k employees to 123k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Erie County, PA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,801 people), Manufacturing (18,951 people), and Retail Trade (12,921 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Erie County, PA, though some of these residents may live in Erie County, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$47,055

Median earning men ± $1,159

$34,766

Median earning women ± $1,130

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($73,049), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($57,634), and Manufacturing ($55,388).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,938), Public Administration ($49,239), and Wholesale Trade ($48,698).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Y-Axis

2.78%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 6.03M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 2.78% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 18.1%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Pennsylvania.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

479
Other Services (except Public Administration)
315
Retail Trade
296
Health Care and Social Assistance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.46M
Manufacturing
$1.41M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$454k
Finance and Insurance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Erie County, PA went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (48.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.41%).

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing the state of Pennsylvania. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (49.8%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (48.8%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.41%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Erie County, PA went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 49.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (48.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.41%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Erie County, PA for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Pennsylvania

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Dave McCormick

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing Pennsylvania.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Pennsylvania over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Pennsylvania have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2023, universities in Erie County, PA awarded 4,520 degrees. The student population of Erie County, PA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 7,115 male students and 8,027 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Erie County, PA are White (3,183 and 77.1%), followed by Asian (306 and 7.42%), Hispanic or Latino (224 and 5.43%), and Black or African American (201 and 4.87%).

The largest universities in Erie County, PA by number of degrees awarded are Gannon University (1,433 and 31.7%), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (1,088 and 24.1%), and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (863 and 19.1%).

The most popular majors in Erie County, PA are Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (510 and 11.3%), Pharmacy (237 and 5.24%), and Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (152 and 3.36%).

The median tuition costs in Erie County, PA are $36,865 for private four year colleges, and $15,388 and $26,112 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Erie County, PA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 84.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 16.6%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 15,142 (47% men and 53% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 15,142 students enrolled in Erie County, PA, 47% men and 53% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 9,750 records, of which 53.4% were women and 46.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Biological Sciences
112 degrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering
90 degrees awarded
Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences
132 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Erie County, PA was General Biological Sciences with 112 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Erie County, PA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Gannon University
1,433 degrees awarded
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
1,088 degrees awarded
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
863 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Gannon University with 1,433 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 2,023 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Erie County, PA, which is 0.81 times less than the 2,497 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,183 degrees mean that there were 10.4 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 306 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($36,865) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,008) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($2,085) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Measure

In 2022, 0.733% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.743% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (3.5M), Bachelors Degree (1.98M), and Some college (1.83M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Erie County, PA was $169,500 in 2023, which is 0.559 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $160,200 to $169,500, a 5.81% increase. The homeownership rate in Erie County, PA is 68.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Erie County, PA have an average commute time of 19.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Erie County, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Erie County, PA is $61,476. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Erie County, PA was Census Tract 109.04 with a value of $155,474, followed by Census Tract 103.04 and Census Tract 103.03, with respective values of $114,250 and $95,440.

In 2023, 14% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Erie County, PA. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.382%.

Housing

Property

$169,500

Median Property Value 2023

±$3,756

$75,241

Median Property Taxes

±$1,891

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Erie County, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Erie County, PA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

68.3%

Homeownership

2023

62.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 68.3% of the housing units in Erie County, PA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Erie County, PA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 109.04
Census Tract 103.04
Census Tract 103.03

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Erie County, PA was Census Tract 109.04 with a value of $155,474, followed by Census Tract 103.04 and Census Tract 103.03, with respective values of $114,250 and $95,440.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Erie County, PA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$61,476

Median Household Income

± $1,408

110k

Number of Households

± 2,526

In 2023, the median household income of the 110k households in Erie County, PA grew to $61,476 from the previous year's value of $59,396.

The following chart displays the households in Erie County, PA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Erie County, PA is from Pennsylvania.

0.466

2022 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

0.467

2021 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

In 2022, the income inequality in Pennsylvania was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.123% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Pennsylvania was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Pennsylvania in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Pennsylvania across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (76.4%)
Carpooled (9.32%)
Worked At Home (8.16%)

In 2023, 76.4% of workers in Erie County, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.32%) and those who worked at home (8.16%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

19.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Erie County, PA have a shorter commute time (19.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.54% of the workforce in Erie County, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Erie County, PA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Erie County, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Erie County, PA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 14% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Erie County, PA. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.382%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Erie County, PA (39.5k out of 256k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Erie County, PA is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 23.8% of the children was living in poverty in Erie County, PA. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 0.8%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

95.9% of the population of Erie County, PA has health coverage, with 46.1% on employee plans, 21.4% on Medicaid, 14.4% on Medicare, 12.7% on non-group plans, and 1.34% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Erie County, PA see 1193 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year (1199 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1380 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 406 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,193 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Erie County, PA

Primary care physicians in Erie County, PA see an average of 1,193 patients per year. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year (1,199 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Erie County, PA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.8% under 18 years, 21.1% between 18 and 34 years, 37.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.11%

Uninsured

46.1%

Employer Coverage

21.4%

Medicaid

14.4%

Medicare

12.7%

Non-Group

1.34%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Erie County, PA declined by 0.65% from 4.13% to 4.11%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Erie County, PA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 47.7 in Erie County, PA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Erie County, PA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.1% in Erie County, PA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Erie County, PA.