State rank#15 of 67
Smallest county269,052 residentsPhiladelphia County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 42049
Erie County, Pennsylvania
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population269,052
Household income$63,354
Unemployment3.8%
Life expectancy76 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Erie County has 269,052 residents and ranks #15 by population among Pennsylvania county equivalents. Median household income is $63,354. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Pennsylvania
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Erie County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Erie County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $177,000 median home value and $904/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,354, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Erie County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, mental health access, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 30.3% and life expectancy is 76 years.
Potential advantages
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,234 residents, rank #12 of 65 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 354 residents, rank #16 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.3%, rank #18 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median household income: $63,354, rank #45 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 19%, rank #44 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 76 years, rank #37 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Pennsylvania
Rank and range use only counties in Pennsylvania with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$63,354
$63,354; below the state county median of $66,318.
State rank #45 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$177,000
$177,000; below the state county median of $202,200.
State rank #26 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$904/mo
$904/mo; above the state county median of $901/mo.
State rank #35 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.8%
3.8%; below the state county median of 3.9%.
State rank #30 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.3%
30.3%; above the state county median of 23.9%.
State rank #18 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76 years
76 years; below the state county median of 76.2 years.
State rank #37 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19%
19%; above the state county median of 18.1%.
State rank #44 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
6.1%
6.1%; below the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #24 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,234 residents
1 per 1,234 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,736 residents.
State rank #12 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 354 residents
1 per 354 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 597 residents.
State rank #16 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Erie County FAQ
Is Erie County a good place to live?
Erie County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, mental health access, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 30.3% and life expectancy is 76 years.
What should I know before moving to Erie County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $177,000 median home value and $904/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,354, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Erie County?
Erie County has 269,052 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Erie County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 42049; the parent state FIPS is 42.
What is the median household income in Erie County?
The ACS median household income is $63,354.
How much does housing cost in Erie County?
Housing benchmarks are $177,000 median home value and $904/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,354, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Erie County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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