Real Estate Investing in Erie, Pennsylvania (16508)

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

Erie County • Population: 15,156 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16508 (Erie, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Erie, PA (16508)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $171,948
Avg Monthly Rent $1,036
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,197
% Renters 33.8%

Market Analysis: 16508 Erie

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Erie's 16508 ZIP clocks in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $172K pricing implies.

The 16508 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within PA, ZIP 16508 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Erie County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 16508 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategy in 16508 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $172K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,036/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 16508

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
6.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$41,552/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $139,132 $1,120 5.8% +11.2% $69,566
3BR $162,908 $1,390 6.1% +10.7% $54,303
4BR $172,570 $1,560 6.5% +10.1% $43,142
5BR $207,758 +10.2% $41,552

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$179K$158K$137K$115K$94K$73KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,059$1,024$989$953$918$883Feb 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16508 Compare?

Metric 16508 Erie Erie, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $171,948 $90,364 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 9.2% 8.4% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,036 $1,123 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16508? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 16508 (Erie, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+9.2%
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 $171,948
Monthly Rent $1,036
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 13.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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
7.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16508

Population: 15,156

💰 Median Household Income
$53,197
This area
$53,197
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.8%
This area
28.8%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.0 years
This area
38.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.4%
Other/Mixed 8.2%
Black/African American 5.4%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.3%
This area
9.3%
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 16508

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$24,260 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Grover Cleveland El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
571 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northwest PA Collegiate Academy

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

Perry El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Erie HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,417 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Jefferson El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 230 East 38th St, Erie
👥
438 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincoln El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 831 E 31st St, Erie
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McKinley El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 933 E 22nd St, Erie
👥
511 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Westlake MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 4330 W Lake Rd, Erie
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,509 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1001 Atkins St, Erie
👥
709 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 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
D
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
303 students · 1.2 mi
C+
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
4,117 students · 1.3 mi
C+
Erie Institute of Technology Inc
183 students · 1.8 mi
C
Mercyhurst University
2,668 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Gannon University
4,548 students · 2.2 mi
C+
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
3,323 students · 5.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Erie, PA stack up for property investment?

Yes - Erie, PA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $172K home prices against $1,036/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How strong are rents in Erie, PA?

The typical rental in Erie, PA commands about $1,036/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $172K purchase basis.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Erie, PA?

The renter base in Erie, PA is reasonable for the $1,036/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Erie, PA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Erie, PA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Erie, PA?

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

You know 16508 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 16508 ranks in Erie, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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