Waterford, PA Eviction Risk Score Erie County · Pennsylvania · Pop. 1,301
Waterford, PA sits at 5.9/10 — Elevated risk. 27.0% rent burden, 51.3% renters, ~67-day typical timeline.
Location & regional heat
Sub-score breakdown
Each component on a 1–10 scale. Ticks mark the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles nationally.
About eviction risk in Waterford, PA
Waterford, PA has an eviction risk score of 5.9 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Erie County and the state of Pennsylvania. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 27.0% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Waterford is $1,003/month. About 51.3% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 13.8%, unemployment 10.1%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Erie County voted Democratic by 1.0 points — classified as politically mixed for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 5.9/10, Waterford is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
| City | Distance | Population | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Village, PA | 4.7 mi | 334 | 3.7 |
| Union City, PA | 8 mi | 2,887 | 4.8 |
| Edinboro, PA | 8.6 mi | 5,440 | 5.5 |
| McKean, PA | 8.7 mi | 437 | 5.8 |
| Wattsburg, PA | 10.1 mi | 341 | 6.5 |
| Cambridge Springs, PA | 10.6 mi | 2,408 | 5.0 |
| Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA | 11.9 mi | 1,607 | 5.1 |
| Canadohta Lake, PA | 12 mi | 290 | 3.8 |
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your research with these guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each breakdown.
- Eviction Process — Step-by-Step Timeline & Notices
- Eviction Costs Breakdown — Filing Fees to Turnover
- Tenant Screening Protocol — NGP 5-Point System
- Rent Control Coverage — AB 1482 & Local RSOs
- California Tenant Protections — Just Cause & Retaliation
- Pennsylvania Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Pennsylvania
- Erie County — compare every city in the county