Erie County, New York Income Statistics
Erie County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Erie County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Erie County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,896 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,670 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.2% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.7% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Erie County is about 16% lower than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Erie County (4.0%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Erie County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New York average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Erie County, New York grew by 56.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,896 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Erie County
| Metric | Erie County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,827 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $60,116 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.1% | 12.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Erie County, it is 0.523, lower than New York's 0.557, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Erie County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $374,885 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Erie County, New York has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,800 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Erie County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.0% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 23,744 people are unemployed in Erie County, New York.
The average commute time in Erie County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Erie County, New York has fallen from 8.0% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2019.
Erie County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Erie County, NY is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 948,176 residents against a local median of 76,141. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Erie County, NY an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 5% above the local median at $72,896 against $69,185. Erie County, NY has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie County, NY | 948,176 | $72,896 #2/6 | 4.0%/yr #3/6 | 4.9% #3/6 | 0.523 #4/6 |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 76,141 | $59,550 | 3.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.519 |
| Wyoming County, NY | 39,775 | $69,185 | 3.2%/yr | 3.6% | 0.525 |
| Niagara County, NY | 210,721 | $69,767 | 4.2%/yr | 5.9% | 0.513 |
| Genesee County, NY | 57,790 | $73,153 | 4.1%/yr | 4.6% | 0.490 |
| Chautauqua County, NY | 125,543 | $58,401 | 3.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Erie County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with New York, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Erie County, New York.
How Wealthy Is Erie County, New York?
Erie County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,896, about 16% lower than the New York average of $86,556.
How fast is household income rising in Erie County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Erie County, New York rose 56%, from $46,612 to $72,896. Over the same years, income here kept pace with New York as a whole: +56% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Erie County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Erie County, New York was $71,272, up 4% from $68,394 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Erie County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Erie County, New York was $59,556. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $72,896.
How strong is the job market in Erie County, New York?
Unemployment in Erie County, New York is only 4.9%, well below the New York rate of 6.4%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Erie County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Erie County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Erie County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Erie County, New York has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,800 since 2009.
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