Erie, PA

Census Place

Add Comparison

2020 Population

96,616

0.665% 1-year decline

US Senator

Bob Casey Jr.

Democratic Party

US Senator

Pat Toomey

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

34.5

1.15% 1-year decrease

2020 Poverty Rate

25.1%

4.02% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$38,655

2.01% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$90,500

1.57% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

42,496

1.18% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Erie, PA had a population of 96.6k people with a median age of 34.5 and a median household income of $38,655. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Erie, PA declined from 97,263 to 96,616, a −0.665% decrease and its median household income grew from $37,894 to $38,655, a 2.01% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Erie, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (68.9%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (15%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.04%), White (Hispanic) (3.57%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.84%).

None of the households in Erie, 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.

96.1% of the residents in Erie, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Erie, PA are Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (1,260 degrees awarded in 2020), Gannon University (1,075 degrees), and Mercyhurst University (752 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Erie, PA was $90,500, and the homeownership rate was 52%.

Most people in Erie, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18 minutes. The average car ownership in Erie, PA was 2 cars per household.

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

Photo by Andrej Baran

Population & Diversity

Erie, PA is home to a population of 96.6k people, from which 96.1% are citizens. As of 2020, 7.14% of Erie, PA residents were born outside of the country (6.9k people).

In 2020, there were 4.59 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (66.5k people) in Erie, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.9k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.1%

2020 Citizenship

96%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 96.1% of Erie, PA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Erie, PA was 96%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Erie, PA

White (Non-Hispanic)
66.5k ± 1.13k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
14.5k ± 798
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
3.9k ± 717

8.17%

Hispanic Population

7.89k people

8.17% of the people in Erie, PA are hispanic (7.89k people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

India
92,750 ± 7,450 people
Dominican Republic
72,397 ± 6,587 people
China
65,642 ± 6,274 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Pennsylvania was India, the natal country of 92,750 Pennsylvania residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 72,397 and China with 65,642.

Foreign-Born Population

7.14%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

6.9k people

7.26%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

7.06k people

As of 2020, 7.14% of Erie, PA residents (6.9k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Erie, PA was 7.26%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,809 ± 229
Gulf War (2001-)
925 ± 244
Gulf War (1990s)
560 ± 151

Erie, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.96 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Erie, PA employs 42.5k people. The largest industries in Erie, PA are Health Care & Social Assistance (8,782 people), Manufacturing (6,445 people), and Retail Trade (4,893 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($61,680), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($45,675), and Public Administration ($43,775).

Males in Pennsylvania have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,196. The income inequality in Pennsylvania (measured using the Gini index) is 0.466, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

42.5k

2020 Value

± 1,610

1.18%

1 Year growth

± 4.92%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Erie, PA grew at a rate of 1.18%, from 42k employees to 42.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Erie, PA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,701 people), Sales & Related Occupations (4,090 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (4,008 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Erie, PA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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

42.5k

2020 Value

± 1,610

1.18%

1 Year growth

± 4.92%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Erie, PA grew at a rate of 1.18%, from 42k employees to 42.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Erie, PA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (8,782 people), Manufacturing (6,445 people), and Retail Trade (4,893 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Erie, PA, though some of these residents may live in Erie, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$31,884

Median earning men ± $1,041

$23,950

Median earning women ± $1,881

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Public Administration ($53,693), Information ($45,938), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($45,425).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($41,161), Construction ($37,835), and Wholesale Trade ($37,825).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $110B, followed by Mixed freight ($74.2B) and Electronics ($44.2B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Pennsylvania products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Pennsylvania.

$734B

2020 Value in Pennsylvania

$1.46T

Projected 2050 Value in Pennsylvania

99.3% growth

In 2020, total outbound Pennsylvania trade was $734B. This is expected to increase 99.3% to $1.46T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Pennsylvania trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.

Most Common Trade Partners

New Jersey
$73.5B
New York
$71.1B
Ohio
$36.8B

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Jersey with $73.5B, followed by New York with $71.1B and Ohio and $36.8B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Pennsylvania shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Bob Casey Jr. and Pat Toomey 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 18 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from Pennsylvania

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

Bob Casey Jr.

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2007

Pat Toomey

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Bob Casey Jr. and Pat Toomey 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 Representatives Elections

US Representatives from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 18 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 2020, universities in Erie, PA awarded 3,087 degrees. The student population of Erie, PA in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 4,813 male students and 6,564 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Erie, PA are White (2,138 and 73.8%), followed by Asian (293 and 10.1%), Hispanic or Latino (172 and 5.94%), and Black or African American (150 and 5.18%).

The largest universities in Erie, PA by number of degrees awarded are Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (1,260 and 40.8%), Gannon University (1,075 and 34.8%), and Mercyhurst University (752 and 24.4%).

The most popular majors in Erie, PA are Pharmacy (273 and 8.84%), Other Health Preparatory Programs (216 and 7%), and General Intelligence (108 and 3.5%).

The median tuition cost in Erie, PA for private four year colleges is $34,575.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Erie, PA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 83.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 19.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 11,377 (42.3% men and 57.7% 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 2020 there were 11,377 students enrolled in Erie, PA, 42.3% men and 57.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 7,685 records, of which 59% were women and 41% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences
94 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
79 degree-majors awarded
General Intelligence
77 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Erie, PA was Other Health Professions & Related Clinical Sciences with 94 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
1,260 degrees awarded
Gannon University
1,075 degrees awarded
Mercyhurst University
752 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine with 1,260 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 1,323 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Erie, PA, which is 0.75 times less than the 1,764 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,138 degrees mean that there were 7.3 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 293 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 ($34,575) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,868) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,140) 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 2020, 0.658% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.701% 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 2020 were High School or Equivalent (3.5M), Bachelors Degree (1.89M), and Some college (1.84M).

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, PA was $90,500 in 2020, which is 0.394 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $89,100 to $90,500, a 1.57% increase. The homeownership rate in Erie, PA is 52%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Erie, PA have an average commute time of 18 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Erie, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Erie, PA is $38,655. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Erie, PA was Census Tract 29 with a value of $77,738, followed by Census Tract 22 and Census Tract 2, with respective values of $67,528 and $62,917.

Housing

Property

$90,500

Median Property Value 2020

±$1,780

$20,891

Median Property Taxes

±$1,052

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, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $2k - $3k range.

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

Rent vs Own

52%

Homeownership

2020

59.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 52% of the housing units in Erie, PA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 50.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Erie, 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 29
Census Tract 22
Census Tract 2

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Erie, PA was Census Tract 29 with a value of $77,738, followed by Census Tract 22 and Census Tract 2, with respective values of $67,528 and $62,917.

The following map shows all of the places in Erie, 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.

$38,655

Median Household Income

± $1,989

40.2k

Number of Households

± 1,515

In 2020, the median household income of the 40.2k households in Erie, PA grew to $38,655 from the previous year's value of $37,894.

The following chart displays the households in Erie, 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

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

0.466

2020 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

0.469

2019 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

In 2020, the income inequality in Pennsylvania was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.614% decline from 2019 to 2020, 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 2018

Drove Alone (71.9%)
Carpooled (13.8%)
Walked (5.24%)

In 2018, 71.9% of workers in Erie, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (13.8%) and those who walked to work (5.24%).

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

18 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Erie, PA have a shorter commute time (18 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.58% of the workforce in Erie, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Erie, 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, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Erie, PA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

25.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Erie, PA (22.9k out of 91.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 18 - 24.

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

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.

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

93.3% of the population of Erie, PA has health coverage, with 37.5% on employee plans, 32.1% on Medicaid, 10.9% on Medicare, 11.6% on non-group plans, and 1.24% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Pennsylvania was $9,258 in 2014. This is a 4.29% increase from the previous year ($8,877).

Primary care physicians in Erie County, PA see 1231 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.69% decrease from the previous year (1265 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1405 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 469 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Pennsylvania. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Pennsylvania, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Erie County, PA.

1,231 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Erie County, PA

Primary care physicians in Erie County, PA see an average of 1,231 patients per year. This represents a 2.69% decrease from the previous year (1,265 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.

Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Pennsylvania across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.6% under 18 years, 26.4% between 18 and 34 years, 34.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.1% were men and 52.9% were women.

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

Uninsured People

6.7%

Uninsured

37.5%

Employer Coverage

32.1%

Medicaid

10.9%

Medicare

11.6%

Non-Group

1.24%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Erie, PA grew by 1.53% from 6.6% to 6.7%.

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