PlainZIP

Union City, PA · standard

ZIP Code 16438

Erie County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

8,083
30/sq mi
$65,000
Median income
$146,600
Median home value
16.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Union City pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

38th pct
household income, US ZIPs
24th pct
home value, US ZIPs
30
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 16438 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 16438 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Union City, Erie County, Pennsylvania, home to 8,083 residents across 267.6 square miles, a density of 30 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 16438 reports a modest median household income of $65,000 (17% below the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $30,220. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 7.9%. Median home value sits at $146,600 (35% below the state average), median rent at $744 a month, and owner-occupancy at 76.4%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.5, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Erie County, so you can benchmark 16438 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 16438

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Union City, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 16438.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 16438, Union City, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

8,083

Population

267.6

Area (sq mi)

30

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 16438?

46.5

Median Age

48.1%

Male

51.9%

Female

0.7%

Foreign-Born

White 92.7%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$65,000

Median Household Income

-17% vs state

$30,220

Per Capita Income

16.8%

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Unemployment Rate

25.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 16438 ranks nationally

Union City, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$65,000 38th percentile higher than 38% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 72.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,058

Total Housing Units

2,952

Occupied Units

1,106

Vacant Units

2.51

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.4%
Renter 23.6%

$146,600

Median Home Value

-35% vs state

$744

Median Rent

1959

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-14.4%

YoY Change (2023)

180

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+80%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 16438 have decreased 14.4% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +80% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 -5.8% 147
2020 +12.3% 165
2021 +1.8% 168
2022 +25.0% 210
2023 -14.4% 180

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 129 business establishments in ZIP 16438, employing approximately 1,013 people with a combined annual payroll of $46,728,000.

129

Businesses

1,013

Employees

$46.7M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 23 17.8%
Retail trade 21 16.3%
Other services (except public administration) 18 13.9%
Health care and social assistance 11 8.5%
Accommodation and food services 11 8.5%
Manufacturing 8 6.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 8 6.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 4.7%
Transportation and warehousing 5 3.9%
Wholesale trade 3 2.3%
Information 3 2.3%
Finance and insurance 3 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 2.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 16438 vs 16427 →

ZIP 16438 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16438 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 16438 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 16438 ranks #3 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
16427 Mill Village, PA 193 6.4 mi
16442 Wattsburg, PA 2,958 10.3 mi
16441 Waterford, PA 10,136 8.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Erie County

16509 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 26,810
16510 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 25,625
16506 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 23,720
16504 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 17,322
16505 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 17,168
16503 standard
Erie, PA
Pop: 16,850

Related Areas

Erie County Union City, PA Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 16438 in? ▼
ZIP code 16438 (Union City) is located in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Erie County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/erie-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 16438? ▼
ZIP code 16438 in Union City, PA has a population of 8,083 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 16438? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 16438 is $65,000, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 16438? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 16438 is $146,600, which is 47% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 16438? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 16438 is White at 92.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 16438? ▼
ZIP code 16438 has 129 business establishments employing approximately 1,013 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 16438? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 16438 are: Construction (23), Retail trade (21), Other services (except public administration) (18). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 16438? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 16438 decreased by 14.4% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 80%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 16438? ▼
In ZIP code 16438, 72.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 16438? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 16438 is 25.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 16438? ▼
In ZIP code 16438, approximately 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 16438? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 16438 is 16.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.