Census ACS · #187 MSA
Erie Metro Area
The Erie, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has 269,544 residents. The median household income is $61,476 and the median home value is $169,500.
269,544
Population
337
People / sq mi
$61,476
Median Income
$169,500
Median Home Value
The Erie CBSA covers 799 sq mi of land at 337.4 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 83.5% |
| Black or African American | 6.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.9% |
Economy & Income
$61,476
Median Household Income
$34,285
Per Capita Income
10.7%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Erie metro's price level is 91.0 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 9.0% lower the US average. The local median income of $61,476 has the buying power of $67,593 in average-priced US metros.
91.0
Price Level (US = 100)
$67,593
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$61,476
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$169,500
Median Home Value
$876
Median Rent
68.3%
Homeownership
Education
92.6%
High School+
29.6%
Bachelor's+
Commute
1.1%
Drive Alone
8.2%
Work From Home
19.9 min
Avg Commute
16.8%
Foreign Born
Erie spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Pennsylvania
Largest counties in Pennsylvania
Part of Pennsylvania
Other metros
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Erie, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 269,544 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #187 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Erie metro area is $61,476, with a per capita income of $34,285.
The Erie, Pa CBSA spans the state of Pennsylvania.
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More from Pennsylvania
Data for the Erie, Pa CBSA (21500) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Erie stands apart on settlement density — it is among the most densely settled of US metro areas, at roughly 337 people per square mile. Erie is a metro area in PA with a population of 269,544.
Household earnings are middling, with a median of $61,476 — below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate is 10.7%, below the national 12.4%. The typical home is valued at $169,500, with typical rent around $876.
29.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, below the national average of 35.0%.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Erie: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.