Real Estate Investing in Erie, Pennsylvania (16505)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Erie County • Population: 15,631 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 16505 (Erie, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Erie, PA (16505)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $262,802
Avg Monthly Rent $838
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,884
% Renters 23.3%

Market Analysis: 16505 Erie

ZIP 16505 in Erie, PA carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $263K and rents of $838/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 16505 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Erie have seen price recovery that 16505 has not matched. Erie County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 16505 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Erie averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 16505, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Erie:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $838/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Erie, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
19 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Erie, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 16505

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$78,547/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $146,393 $880 4.3% +10.2% $146,393
2BR $182,778 $1,130 4.5% +9.7% $91,389
3BR $235,641 $1,400 4.3% +9.0% $78,547
4BR $343,728 $1,570 3.3% +9.1% $85,932
5BR $481,012 +9.0% $96,202

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$274K$242K$210K$179K$147K$116KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 16505 Compare?

Metric 16505 Erie Erie, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $262,802 $90,364 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 8.4% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $838 $1,123 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16505? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 16505 (Erie, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 16505 (Erie, PA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Erie, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
0/2
19 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $262,802
Monthly Rent $838
Price-to-Rent 26.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16505

Population: 15,631

💰 Median Household Income
$69,884
This area
$69,884
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.3%
This area
23.3%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.7%
This area
45.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.1 years
This area
49.1 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.4%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Asian 1.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Black/African American 0.8%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.6%
This area
26.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 16505

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.6:1 Avg Class Size
$20,504 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Westlake MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,509 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harding Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
678 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tracy El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,509 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Montessori Regional CS

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
632 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,739 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Grover Cleveland El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1540 W 38th St, Erie
👥
571 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northwest PA Collegiate Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2825 State St, Erie
👥
748 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Perry El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 955 W 29th St, Erie
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Strong Vincent MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1330 West 8, Erie
👥
722 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Erie HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3325 Cherry St, Erie
👥
2,417 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

6 Nearby 212 Off-Campus Students
C+
Gannon University
4,548 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
4,117 students · 3.2 mi
D
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
303 students · 3.7 mi
C+
Erie Institute of Technology Inc
183 students · 3.9 mi
C
Mercyhurst University
2,668 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
3,323 students · 8.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Erie, PA a good place for real estate investing?

Erie, PA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $263K and rents near $838/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Erie, PA?

Erie, PA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is Erie, PA good for house hacking?

House hacking in Erie, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $263K and rents of $838/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What price range are homes in Erie, PA?

Expect median prices around $263K in Erie, PA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

What is the typical rental rate in Erie, PA?

Erie, PA rentals go for roughly $838/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $263K acquisition costs.

You know 16505 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 16505 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 16505 ranks in Erie, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 16505 (Erie)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 16505 (Erie, PA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.