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Sandusky, OH metro area: population growth, jobs and income

The Sandusky, OH metro area lost 597 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.5%).

The Sandusky, OH metro area had an estimated 112,777 residents in 2025, down 2.6% (2,997 fewer people) since 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now.

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Headline numbers

Population, migration, employment, permits, unemployment and income are the figures each agency publishes for the area itself (OMB Bulletin 23-01 delineation; ACS 2016-20 and CBP 2018 use the delineation of their year). IRS migration is the sum of the member counties.

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 156 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.

Private employers had 42,935 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +37.4% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 5.8% in 2025, 0.5 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 325 new homes in 2025, or 2.9 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $73,502 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +25.8% since 2016–20.

Population growth over five years ranks 12th of 15 Ohio metro areas and 348th of 362 U.S. metro areas.

IRS tax-return data for 2022-2023 show a net loss of 20 people (the sum of its counties).

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How it ranks

MeasureAmong U.S. metro areas
Population growth348th of 362
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents258th of 362
Private-sector job growth1st of 352
Median household income179th of 362
Lowest unemployment rate337th of 362
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents208th of 362

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment), against areas with a figure for the same period.

Fastest-growing metro areas in Ohio · Fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Erie County, OH, the principal county of the Sandusky, OH area, as a PDF: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Counties in this metro area

Erie County, OH drove the change: of the 2,997 residents the Sandusky, OH metro area lost from 2020 to 2025 (the sum of its counties), it lost 2,175 (73%).

The 2 counties of the Sandusky, OH metro area: Census population estimates
CountyRoleResidents2025Share of residents2025Change2020–2025Share of the change2020–2025
Erie County, OHCentral73,29665.0%−2,175 (−2.9%)73%
Ottawa County, OHCentral39,48135.0%−822 (−2.0%)27%

Census Bureau population estimates (July 1). Shares are of the member counties' total; a share of the change shows only when every county moved the same way. – means no figure for the common period.

All Ohio counties

Nearby and similar metro areas

Next to this metro area

Similar in size

Questions

Is the Sandusky, OH metro area growing?

No. Its population fell 2.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,997 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates).

Which county in the Sandusky, OH metro area is growing fastest?

None of its 2 member counties grew between 2020 and 2025. Ottawa County, OH came closest (−2.0%; Census Bureau population estimates).

How many people moved to the Sandusky, OH metro area?

On net, none in 2025: about 156 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in the Sandusky, OH metro area?

It averaged 5.8% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of the Sandusky, OH metro area?

About 112,777 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

Erie County data alerts

Email me when Erie County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Erie County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.