Cost of Living in Erie County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Erie County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Erie County ranks #1,880 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 40%)
Sourced county brief
Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Income in Erie County
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Erie County was estimated at 29.6% for the 2020-2024 ACS period. This official GRAPI estimate is 1.9 percentage points higher than the unweighted county mean across Pennsylvania, which was 27.7%. Median gross rent for the county was $904 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $991. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $933, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,010. The median home value was $177,000, which is $35,079 below the state unweighted county mean of $212,079. Renter households in the county had a median income of $34,870. This analysis utilizes snapshot data from the ACS 5-year estimates and does not provide financial or relocation advice. All figures are presented as recorded in the Census Bureau's dataset without additional context. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Erie County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.6% of renter household income in Erie County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $904 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $933. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Erie County's $904 median is 8.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Erie County
Rent Burden
17.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,478
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.7%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Erie County
Median home value is $177,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,413 vs. your max of $1,478.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Erie County, Pennsylvania?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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