PlainZIP

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
$38,566
Median income
$93,000
Median home value
19.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $26,082. Local economic indicators show a 29.9% poverty rate alongside 9.3% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $93,000 (59% below the state average) with median rent at $851 per month, and 39.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Erie County, letting you compare 16502 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 16502

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Erie, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 16502.

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 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

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 16502?

33.0

Median Age

49.5%

Male

50.5%

Female

5.2%

Foreign-Born

White 67.1%
African American 11.9%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 15.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%

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

$26,082

Per Capita Income

29.9%

Poverty Rate

9.3%

Unemployment Rate

17.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 16502 ranks nationally

Erie, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$38,566 5th percentile higher than 5% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 57.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.5%

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

What does housing look like?

7,963

Total Housing Units

7,077

Occupied Units

886

Vacant Units

2.18

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 39.4%
Renter 60.6%

$93,000

Median Home Value

-59% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16502 ranks #6 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 16502 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 16502 ranks #6 of 9 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
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

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 Erie, PA Pennsylvania

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.

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