1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Erie County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $71,993. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Erie County offer.
On this page
- 74,581 residents: Erie County basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Erie County
- Erie County's most unusual numbers
- The $71,993 median and what sits around it
- Labor force snapshot: Erie County
- How Erie County compares with nearby counties
- Sandusky and the rest of Erie County
- Debt-to-income at Erie County's medians
- More Erie County figures
- What the numbers mean for Erie County borrowers
- Steps before you apply in Erie County
- Lender oversight for Erie County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
74,581 residents: Erie County basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Erie County's population at 74,581; only 33 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 251 square miles, that is close to 297 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Sandusky, OH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (7 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Sandusky, with about 24,606 residents, or 33% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Erie County
Renters in Erie County pay a median of $933 a month, 10% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. By the Census definition, 43% of Erie County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $199,700, a typical Erie County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 72%, renters 28%. Half the housing stock was built before 1968.
| Home costs | Erie County | Ohio | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 72% | 67% | +4.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | -3.3 pts |
| Median gross rent | $933/mo | $1,034/mo | 10% lower |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | -0.8 pts |
| Median home value | $199,700 | $214,800 | 7% lower |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% | 3.4% | -0.3 pts |
Erie County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 87 county-level areas in Ohio, these are the Erie County figures furthest from the middle.
- On median age, Erie County sits near the top of Ohio at 45.3, 6th highest of 88. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- Erie County ranks 9th highest of 88 Ohio counties for the housing vacancy rate: 16%, against 8% statewide. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
The $71,993 median and what sits around it
At $71,993, the typical Erie County household income is 10% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 34th of 88.
| Income band | Share in Erie County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.8% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.3 pts |
On the low end, 25% of Erie County households report under $35,000; at the top, 34% report $100,000-plus. Erie County counts about 9,672 residents below the poverty line, 13.0% of the population. A household earning below the $71,993 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Labor force snapshot: Erie County
The biggest employer of Erie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 13% locally and 8% for Ohio. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Erie County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Top industries | Erie County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.4% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 4.7% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Erie County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Huron County at 17 miles out to Medina County at 41. Erie County's $71,993 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $62,295 (Sandusky County) to $94,968 (Medina County).
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie County | - | $71,993 | $933/mo | 72% |
| Huron County, OH | 17 mi | $67,878 | $848/mo | 74% |
| Lorain County, OH | 21 mi | $73,347 | $966/mo | 74% |
| Ottawa County, OH | 24 mi | $76,101 | $930/mo | 84% |
| Sandusky County, OH | 29 mi | $62,295 | $783/mo | 73% |
| Seneca County, OH | 34 mi | $66,025 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Medina County, OH | 41 mi | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
Sandusky and the rest of Erie County
37,098 of Erie County's 74,581 residents live in its 12 Census places (50%); the 12 largest are listed. Milan has the highest median household income on the list ($97,973) and Sandusky the lowest ($50,139), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | city | 24,606 | $50,139 | $905 | 8 mi |
| Huron | city | 6,757 | $78,333 | $1,000 | 1 mi |
| Milan | village | 1,774 | $97,973 | $973 | 7 mi |
| Castalia | village | 1,230 | $55,455 | $730 | 11 mi |
| Berlin Heights | village | 1,089 | $93,417 | $964 | 7 mi |
| Bay View | village | 622 | $79,792 | $866 | 13 mi |
| Bloomingville | CDP | 302 | $126,792 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Mitiwanga | CDP | 228 | $78,651 | $727 | 6 mi |
| Birmingham | CDP | 132 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Kelleys Island | village | 128 | $82,917 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Beulah Beach | CDP | 126 | $49,286 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Crystal Rock | CDP | 104 | $158,375 | n/a | 14 mi |
Debt-to-income at Erie County's medians
DTI math using Erie County medians ($71,993 income, $933 rent):
- $71,993 a year is $5,999 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $933 uses 16%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,227 a month
Homeowners in Erie County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
More Erie County figures
In Erie County, 29% of adults have at least a four-year degree (31% in Ohio). About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Erie County | Gap to Ohio | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 6.0% | -6.9 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Median age | 45.3 | +5.6 yrs | +3.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.0% | -2.5 pts | +6.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | -1.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | -1.2 pts | -2.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | +0.6 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | -0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | -0.3 pts | -0.2 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Erie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
What the numbers mean for Erie County borrowers
Where the Erie County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Older households. A 45.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Steps before you apply in Erie County
A short checklist for Erie County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Ohio license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Erie County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Erie County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Ohio guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Erie County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erie County a high-income county?
Its $71,993 median ranks 34th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Erie County?
$933 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Erie County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Sandusky?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Erie County, such as Huron, Milan, Castalia.
Are Erie County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.