The Erie metro is home to 269,544 people (down 2.3% over five years), with a median household income of $61,476. Typical rent of $1,126/month works out to 22.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Erie's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 28.4% |
| Manufacturing | 15.5% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.9% |
| Professional & management | 7.7% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Erie market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,126/month suggests a household income around $45,000/year. The metro's median household income is $61,476.
By workforce share: Education & health care (28.4%), Manufacturing (15.5%), Retail trade (10.5%) (Census ACS 5-year).