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 Moderate-density area
- $65,000
- Median income Near-median income area
- $146,600
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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 average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,220. The poverty rate is 16.8%, with unemployment at 7.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $146,600 (35% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $744; owner occupancy is 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. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Erie County, so 16438 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Construction
Construction
23 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
11 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
11 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 16438?
46.5
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
0.7%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$30,220
Per Capita Income
16.8%
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Unemployment Rate
25.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 16438 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Union City, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$65,000 36th percentile higher than 36% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
4,058housing units
4,058
Total Housing Units
2,952
Occupied Units
1,106
Vacant Units
2.51
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$146,600
Median Home Value
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 16441
Waterford (16441)
10,136 residents
- 16438
Union City (16438)
8,083 residents
- 16442 2,958
Wattsburg (16442)
2,958 residents
- 16427 193
Mill Village (16427)
193 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16438 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 16438 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 16441
Waterford (16441)
$81,117 median income
- 16442
Wattsburg (16442)
$73,571 median income
- 16438
Union City (16438)
$65,000 median income
- 16427
Mill Village (16427)
$61,250 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 16438, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (8,083 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Erie County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 16438's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 16438 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Union City, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.