Erie, PA · standard
ZIP Code 16502
Erie County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 16,664
- 2,489/sq mi High-density area
- $38,566
- Median income Below-median income area
- $93,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 19.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Erie pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 8th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,489
- people per sq mi
- 39%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 16502 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 16502 (Erie, PA) rose +2.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 189.1 in 2023 to 193.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 16502 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, home to 16,664 residents across 6.7 square miles, a density of 2,489 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 16502 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,566 (50% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $26,082. The poverty rate is 29.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $93,000 (59% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $851; owner occupancy is 39.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Erie County, so 16502 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 16502
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Erie, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 16502.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
63 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
43 establishments
- Construction
Construction
36 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
34 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
29 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 16502, Erie, 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
16,664
Population
6.7
Area (sq mi)
2,489
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 16502?
33.0
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
5.2%
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?
$38,566
Median Household Income
-50% vs state ZIP avg
$26,082
Per Capita Income
29.9%
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Unemployment Rate
17.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 16502 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Erie, 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)
$38,566 3rd percentile higher than 3% 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
7,963housing units
7,963
Total Housing Units
7,077
Occupied Units
886
Vacant Units
2.18
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$93,000
Median Home Value
-59% vs state ZIP avg
$851
Median Rent
1938
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
+2.2%
YoY Change (2024)
193
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+93%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 16502 have increased 2.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +93% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.7% | 129 |
| 2021 | +17.1% | 151 |
| 2022 | -4.7% | 144 |
| 2023 | +31.2% | 189 |
| 2024 | +2.2% | 193 |
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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 309 business establishments in ZIP 16502, employing approximately 7,561 people with a combined annual payroll of $457,530,000.
309
Businesses
7,561
Employees
$457.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 63 | 20.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 43 | 13.9% |
| Construction | 36 | 11.7% |
| Manufacturing | 34 | 11.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 29 | 9.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23 | 7.4% |
| Retail trade | 20 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 17 | 5.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 13 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 2.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 2.6% |
| Information | 5 | 1.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.0% |
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 16502 vs 16508 →
ZIP 16502 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 16509
Erie (16509)
26,810 residents
- 16506
Erie (16506)
23,720 residents
- 16504
Erie (16504)
17,322 residents
- 16505
Erie (16505)
17,168 residents
- 16503
Erie (16503)
16,850 residents
- 16502
Erie (16502)
16,664 residents
- 16508
Erie (16508)
16,050 residents
- 16507
Erie (16507)
11,088 residents
- 16501 2,044
Erie (16501)
2,044 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16502 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 16502 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 16506
Erie (16506)
$81,060 median income
- 16505
Erie (16505)
$72,938 median income
- 16509
Erie (16509)
$68,846 median income
- 16504
Erie (16504)
$56,622 median income
- 16508
Erie (16508)
$56,391 median income
- 16502
Erie (16502)
$38,566 median income
- 16507
Erie (16507)
$33,361 median income
- 16503 $32,340
Erie (16503)
$32,340 median income
- 16501 $16,394
Erie (16501)
$16,394 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 16502 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16508 | Erie, PA | 16,050 | 1.1 mi |
| 16501 | Erie, PA | 2,044 | 1.0 mi |
| 16507 | Erie, PA | 11,088 | 1.9 mi |
| 16505 | Erie, PA | 17,168 | 2.4 mi |
| 16546 | Erie, PA | 1,154 | 2.5 mi |
| 16504 | Erie, PA | 17,322 | 2.7 mi |
| 16503 | Erie, PA | 16,850 | 2.3 mi |
| 16506 | Erie, PA | 23,720 | 4.2 mi |
| 16509 | Erie, PA | 26,810 | 4.7 mi |
| 16563 | Erie, PA | 1,621 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 16502, 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 (16,664 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 16502 in?
ZIP code 16502 (Erie) 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 16502?
ZIP code 16502 in Erie, PA has a population of 16,664 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 16502?
The median household income in ZIP 16502 is $38,566, which is 49% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 16502?
The median home value in ZIP 16502 is $93,000, which is 67% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 16502?
The largest racial group in ZIP 16502 is White at 67.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 16502?
ZIP code 16502 has 309 business establishments employing approximately 7,561 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 16502?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 16502 are: Health care and social assistance (63), Other services (except public administration) (43), Construction (36). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 16502?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 16502 increased by 2.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 93%. 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 16502?
In ZIP code 16502, 57.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.5% 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 16502?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 16502 is 17.7 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 16502?
In ZIP code 16502, approximately 39.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 60.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 16502?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 16502 is 29.9% 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 16502's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 16502 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Erie, 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.