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Buying a home in Erie County, New York

The typical owner-occupied home in Erie County is worth about $233,800, 45% below the New York median of $423,800 and 30% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,622 a year in property taxes, about 1.98% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $72,839 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 57% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Erie County at a glance

Erie County New York U.S.
Median home value $233,800 $423,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $4,622 $6,582 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.98% 1.55% 0.94%
Median household income $72,839 $85,974 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 66% 54% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 57% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,619 $2,555 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.7% 22.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,090 $1,621 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.2% 31.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1959 1980
Vacant homes 7.2% 10.0% 10.1%
Population 950,622 19,852,366 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Erie County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Erie County home of $233,800 with 20% down costs about $1,741 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,131, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $74,632 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Erie County household income of $72,839; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $228,000.

The median rent here is $1,090 a month, so owning the median home costs about $651 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$46,760
Loan amount$187,040
Principal and interest$1,258
Property taxes (1.98% a year)$386
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$97
PMI$0
Total per month$1,741

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,183
Loan amount$229,565
Principal and interest$1,544
Property taxes (1.98% a year)$386
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$97
FHA mortgage insurance$103
Total per month$2,131

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Questions about home buying in Erie County

What is the median home value in Erie County?

About $233,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Erie County?

Homeowners pay a median $4,622 a year, which is about 1.98% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Erie County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,741 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $74,632 a year.

More about Erie County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data