RANK #484 / 1001 NAT · #36 / 49 OH · POP 74,581
1YR FORECAST: +1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Erie County, Ohio, is defined by its Lake Erie shoreline and the city of Sandusky, known for its tourism and unique Masonic star-shaped street plan. Located in northern Ohio, the county is less than an hour from both Cleveland and Toledo, with accessible routes via the Ohio Turnpike and State Route 2. The community offers a blend of lakeside living and agricultural areas, with over 50% of the land dedicated to farming. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for boating, fishing, and exploring 14 parks and preserves managed by Erie MetroParks, which feature over 30 miles of trails and diverse natural landscapes.
Life in Erie County offers a mix of small-town and rural settings, with public schools generally performing above average. Commute options within the county include the Sandusky Transit System's Dial-A-Ride, a curb-to-curb service, and regional rideshare programs. The economy, historically tied to manufacturing, has shifted towards tourism, with major attractions drawing visitors to the area. Recent economic developments show investment in commercial and residential projects, as well as in sectors like data centers and energy, supported by local initiatives aimed at business attraction and expansion.
Erie County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.2% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Emerson Creek Wind Farm
Apex Clean Energy (Firelands Wind LLC)
|
$615M | Under Construction |
|
Aligned Data Centers: NEO-01 Campus
Aligned Data Centers
|
$202M | Planned |
|
Battery Park Redevelopment
Marous Development Group
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Wheatsborough Solar Project
Apex Clean Energy
|
$150M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Erie County scores 51/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#484). Median household income is $71,993 and job growth is running at +0.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Erie County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $199,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $933/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Erie County are both close to flat — population -0.5% YoY and jobs +0.2%. Home values shifted +1.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.6% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Erie County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.