The Town FilesErie, Pennsylvania
City in Erie County · population 94,831 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,200
- Household income
- $46,113
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.8
Erie is a city of 94,831 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $115,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Erie ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Erie is worth $115,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $46,113, which is more affordable than 70% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $870 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Erie | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $870 | $996 |
| Median household income | $46,113 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Erie
| People | Erie | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Erie
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 43.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 9, 2025 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 23, 1962.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 119,552 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,524 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Erie itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Erie
35 public schools with 21,307 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie HS | 9-12 | 2,417 | 13.6 |
| McDowell HS | 9-12 | 2,161 | 15.4 |
| Northwest PA Collegiate Academy | 9-12 | 748 | 13.9 |
| Woodrow Wilson MS | 6-8 | 739 | 13.4 |
| Strong Vincent MS | 6-8 | 722 | 12.4 |
| East MS | 6-8 | 709 | 13.1 |
| Harding Sch | PK-5 | 678 | 13.0 |
| Grandview El Sch | K-5 | 672 | 15.6 |
| Montessori Regional CS (charter) | K-8 | 632 | 15.0 |
| Pfeiffer-Burleigh Sch | PK-5 | 612 | 13.3 |
| Belle Valley El Sch | PK-5 | 603 | 14.4 |
| Perseus House CS of Excellence (charter) | 6-12 | 601 | 16.2 |
Towns near Erie
- Millcreek, PA3.2 mi · 54,073 people · home $230,600
- Wesleyville, PA3.4 mi · 3,222 people · home $108,600
- Lawrence Park, PA3.5 mi · 3,820 people · home $138,800
- Northwest Harborcreek, PA4.6 mi · 8,772 people · home $225,800
- Summit, PA5.1 mi · 7,342 people · home $245,000
- Harborcreek, PA6.3 mi · 16,635 people · home $237,000
- Greene, PA7.8 mi · 4,478 people · home $227,700
- McKean, PA8.8 mi · 4,437 people · home $241,600
Erie questions
Is Erie, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Erie scores better for retirees than 4% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 4%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Erie?
The median owner-occupied home in Erie is valued at $115,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,113, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $870 a month.
What is the weather like in Erie?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.0 inches of precipitation a year and 104.3 inches of snow.
Does Erie get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 9, 2025. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)