County · Ohio

Erie County, Ohio

Erie County, Ohio. Erie County had 73,296 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.1% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. It holds 24 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 20 census tracts. GEOID 39043.

Erie County is one of the 2 counties of the Sandusky, OH metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

73,296

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 75,622 · ACS 2020-2024: 74,581

Median household income

$71,993

±$3,166 (90% margin)
Ohio: $71,389

Median home value

$199,700

±$6,490 (90% margin)
Ohio: $214,800

Median gross rent

$933

±$23 (90% margin)
Ohio: $1,034

How many people live in Erie County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 75,622 residents in Erie County. The Census Bureau estimates 73,296 for July 1, 2025, down 3.1% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 74,581 over 251 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −709 (74,762)
2021→2022 −446 (74,316)
2022→2023 −530 (73,786)
2023→2024 −141 (73,645)
2024→2025 −349 (73,296)

Erie County in Ohio. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Erie County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	74,581	11,810,293	−199
Households	32,482±572	4,863,191	+1,299
Average household size	2.22±0.04	2.37	−0.14
Housing units	38,534±86	5,292,391	+674

Erie County's population since 2000

From 79,551 in 2000 to 73,296 in 2025: down 7.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 79,551
2005 (estimate) 78,070
2010 Census 77,079
2015 (estimate) 75,388
2020 Census 75,622
2025 (estimate) 73,296

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Erie County?

Erie County holds 24 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Sandusky with 24,001 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Erie County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Sandusky	city	25,095	24,606±25	$50,139	$113,100	25.6%	100%
Perkins Township	township	12,390	12,446±29	$76,659	$224,300	5.7%	100%
Huron Township	township	10,724	10,573±31	$88,204	$247,000	4.4%	100%
Huron	city	6,922	6,757±22	$78,333	$222,500	5.6%	100%
Margaretta Township	township	5,640	5,481±36	$78,333	$191,300	13.6%	100%
Vermilion Township	township	4,857	4,797±21	$73,407	$263,500	5.9%	100%
Vermilion	city	10,659	10,343±415	$69,701	$183,600	6.7%	44%
Milan Township	township	3,580	3,562±35	$98,333	$255,000	11.4%	100%
Berlin Township, Erie County	township	3,450	3,402±26	$74,425	$245,900	11.5%	100%
Florence Township, Erie County	township	2,470	2,793±380	$111,048	$277,000	7.8%	100%
Groton TownshipGEOID 3904332578	township	1,379	1,237±356	$93,843	$198,800	0.0%	100%
Oxford Township, Erie CountyGEOID 3904359276	township	1,140	964±357	$126,458	$235,300	0.0%	100%
Milan	village	1,371	1,774±430	$97,973	$193,100	7.1%	73%
Castalia	village	774	1,230±333	$55,455	$186,300	36.6%	100%
Berlin Heights	village	651	1,089±413	$93,417	$177,900	13.5%	100%
Bay View	village	608	622±165	$79,792	$169,300	4.5%	100%
MitiwangaGEOID 3950974	CDP	326	228±120	$78,651	$284,400	0.0%	100%
Birmingham	CDP	286	132±100	not published	not published	12.9%	100%
Kelleys IslandGEOID 3939662	village	256	128±62	$82,917	$346,400	3.2%	100%
BloomingvilleGEOID 3907258	CDP	255	302±218	$126,792	$242,500	0.0%	100%
Whites LandingGEOID 3984882	CDP	350	386±223	$34,132	$200,800	27.7%	67%
Crystal RockGEOID 3919615	CDP	138	104±109	$158,375	$271,500	0.0%	100%
Beulah BeachGEOID 3906208	CDP	75	126±71	$49,286	not published	0.0%	100%
Bellevue	city	8,249	8,187±40	$53,875	$152,800	18.9%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Erie County?

The median resident of Erie County is 45.3 years old; 19.4% are under 18 and 23.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.2%. 2.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Erie County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	45.3±0.3	39.7	+0.5
Under 18 years	19.4%±0.3 pts	22.0%	–
65 years and over	23.7%±0.1 pts	18.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.6%	4.8%	+0.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	79.6%±0.9 pts	75.8%	−3.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	8.2%±0.5 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.3 pts	2.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.1%±0.9 pts	4.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	1.5%±0.7 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.1%±0.6 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.7%±0.7 pts	8.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.6%±0.7 pts	6.6%	–
With a disability	15.8%±1.2 pts	14.4%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.2%±0.7 pts	6.4%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.2%±0.9 pts	91.8%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	29.0%±1.9 pts	31.5%	+5.8 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	9.9%±1.2 pts	12.2%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.9%±0.4 pts	1.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Erie County earn?

Half of Erie County's 32,482 households earn less than $71,993 a year (±$3,166), against $71,389 in Ohio. In 2015-2019 the median was $66,736 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,257 after inflation. 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Erie County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$71,993±$3,166	$71,389	+$5,257
Mean household income	$92,098±$4,324	$96,990	–
Per capita income	$40,578±$1,847	$40,552	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.0%±1.3 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	21.0%±3.2 pts	17.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	11.4%±1.6 pts	12.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.3%±1.6 pts	90.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Erie County?

Owners occupy 71.9% of Erie County's occupied homes and renters 28.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,700 by its owner (±$6,490). The median renter pays $933 a month including utilities, and 36.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Erie County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$199,700±$6,490	$214,800	+$27,526
Median gross rent	$933±$23	$1,034	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.3%±4.1 pts	37.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,374±$31	$1,517	–
Owner-occupied homes	71.9%±1.9 pts	67.2%	+2.7 pts
Housing units	38,534±86	5,292,391	+674
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.9%±2.8 pts	4.4%	–
Single-family detached homes	73.2%±1.7 pts	68.8%	–
Mobile homes	3.1%±0.6 pts	3.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.5%±0.2 pts	1.1%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	20.2%±1.7 pts	19.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Erie County building?

Builders took permits for 164 new housing units across Erie County in 2025 (161 single-family), 2.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 101 units
2020 128 units
2021 289 units
2022 272 units
2023 135 units
2024 113 units
2025 164 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Erie County get to work?

80.0% of Erie County's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Erie County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	61.7%±1.4 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	5.3%±1.0 pts	4.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.0%±1.9 pts	75.1%	–
Carpooled	8.7%±1.5 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	2.5%±1.8 pts	1.0%	–
Walked	1.7%±0.6 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	6.0%±1.0 pts	13.0%	+3.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.5 min±1.0	23.4 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Erie County's census tracts?

Erie County is divided into 20 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $40,114 (Tract 413) to $99,053 (Tract 418).

Census tracts of Erie County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 40139043040100	Vermilion (88%)	5,593	5,345±162	$94,034	$187,400	$1,073	3.3%
Tract 40239043040200	Mitiwanga (6%)	3,901	4,044±162	$74,194	$251,200	$749	5.9%
Tract 40339043040300	Berlin Heights (8%)	5,920	6,195±379	$89,469	$261,800	$1,121	9.8%
Tract 40439043040400	Huron (47%)	5,921	5,877±372	$92,215	$247,100	$859	4.5%
Tract 40539043040500	Huron (99%)	4,487	4,189±309	$73,777	$224,800	$982	4.6%
Tract 40739043040700	Sandusky	3,805	4,311±490	$49,688	$99,200	$904	32.0%
Tract 408.0139043040801	Sandusky	2,585	2,169±387	$55,341	not published	$959	19.2%
Tract 408.0239043040802	Sandusky	1,624	1,613±306	$50,991	$164,900	$838	27.2%
Tract 40939043040900	Sandusky (95%)	3,300	3,384±439	$48,529	$144,800	$1,011	24.8%
Tract 41039043041000	Sandusky	2,850	3,155±500	$60,505	$103,800	$864	32.8%
Tract 41139043041100	Sandusky	4,052	3,646±494	$50,308	$98,600	$906	24.7%
Tract 41239043041200	Sandusky	2,472	2,438±396	$32,857	$89,600	$825	28.1%
Tract 41339043041300	Sandusky (97%)	3,585	3,185±484	$40,114	$144,700	$865	16.1%
Tract 41439043041400	–	2,866	2,996±345	$77,181	$223,000	$995	11.7%
Tract 41639043041600	Bloomingville (2%)	5,685	5,709±483	$78,958	$226,600	$1,069	2.2%
Tract 417.0139043041701	Castalia (24%)	3,519	3,211±271	$77,692	$190,000	$447	18.0%
Tract 417.0239043041702	Bay View (34%)	2,729	2,716±287	$70,438	$190,900	$965	10.4%
Tract 41839043041800	Milan (16%)	6,103	5,763±368	$99,053	$235,600	$942	7.0%
Tract 41939043041900	Kelleys Island (20%)	4,625	4,635±525	$88,182	$267,500	$1,082	5.1%
Tract 990139043990100	–	0	0±13	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Erie County compare with Ohio's other counties?

Erie County's rank among Ohio's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	34th of 88
Growth 2020-2025	85th of 88
Residents per square mile	21st of 88
Median household income	34th of 88
Median home value	33rd of 88
Median gross rent	28th of 88
Poverty rate	42nd of 88
Bachelor's degree or higher	23rd of 88
Median age	6th of 88

Every county in Ohio

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Erie County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.