In Sandusky, a typical home is worth $113,100 and typical rent is $905 a month. Compared with all of Erie County, the typical home value is 43% lower, typical household income is 30% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $113,511 to $152,567.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Sandusky is in Erie County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Erie County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
50% of households in Sandusky own their home, against 72% in Erie County.
2
The typical home in Sandusky is worth $113,100,43% less than in Erie County as a whole ($199,700).
3
The typical household income in Sandusky is $50,139,30% less than in Erie County as a whole ($71,993).
4
Nearby, in Clyde, the typical rent is $739: 18% less than in Sandusky ($905).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Sandusky
What homes there are in Sandusky, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Kind of home: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Detached house
58%
73%
69%
61%
Attached house
5%
5%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
16%
8%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
19%
11%
15%
19%
Mobile home
3%
3%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Sandusky (58%), but less so than in Erie County (73%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Year built: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Before 1960
58%
41%
38%
26%
1960–1979
25%
28%
26%
24%
1980–1999
11%
20%
20%
25%
2000–2009
5%
7%
10%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
7%
11%
The typical home in Sandusky was built in 1955, 13 years before the typical one in Erie County.
In Sandusky, 18% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64% in Erie County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K41%
$100K–$200K41%
$200K–$300K9%
$300K–$500K4%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Under $100K
41%
$100K–$200K
41%
$200K–$300K
9%
$300K–$500K
4%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Sandusky sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5008%
$500–$99960%
$1,000–$1,49927%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,221
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Under $500
8%
$500–$999
60%
$1,000–$1,499
27%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Erie County is $1,221; about 81% of rents in Sandusky are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,091 a month
Erie County: $1,374 a month
Without a mortgage
$432 a month
Erie County: $567 a month
Owners with a mortgage
60%
Erie County: 56%
Owning costs less in Sandusky: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,091 a month; in Erie County, $1,374. Without one, $432.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Sandusky+31%
Erie County+43%
Ohio+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Sandusky+25%
Erie County+23%
Ohio+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Sandusky+31%
Erie County+33%
Ohio+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Typical home value
+31%
+43%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+25%
+23%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
+31%
+33%
+26%
+29%
Homes in Sandusky gained value more slowly than in Erie County: 31% since 2015–2019, against 43%.
Much as in Erie County, the typical rent in Sandusky rose 25% since 2015–2019.
To compare: typical income in Sandusky rose 31%; the home, +31%; the rent, +25%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Sandusky and its comparisons
Measure
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.9%
4.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.10
2.22
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
73%
80%
75%
69%
Carpool
11%
9%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
4%
6%
13%
15%
Other means
2%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.10 on average, against 2.22 in Erie County.
To get to work, 73% of workers in Sandusky drive alone; in Erie County, 80%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Sandusky?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Sandusky, worth $113,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Sandusky, which is $50,139 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Erie County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Sandusky. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $3,959 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$972
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$111,051
Total interest
$159,776
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,910 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,170 a month
Your payment · 23%
Tight
$1,170 to $1,504 a month
Hard
more than $1,504 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Sandusky ($50,139 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$752
Property tax
$123
Home insurance
$47
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$50
You need at least $3,959 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $972; principal and interest $752.
The city and its county
Sandusky and Erie County
Sandusky is in Erie County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Sandusky
Map of Erie County, Ohio, with Sandusky marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Sandusky
Erie County
Other cities with a page
Sandusky's own numbers
Typical home value
$113,100
Typical monthly rent
$905
Typical yearly household income
$50,139
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
1.3%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Erie County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,221
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+61%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.6%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Erie County.
A typical home in Sandusky is worth $113,100: 43% below the county and 47% below Ohio. With the typical household income in Sandusky ($50,139 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Sandusky2.3 years
Erie2.8 years
Ohio3.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Erie County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Erie County rose 94% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Erie County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Erie County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.8% +3.8% 2016
2017: +3.4% +3.4% 2017
2018: +4.0% +4.0% 2018
2019: +4.1% +4.1% 2019
2020: +3.4% +3.4% 2020
2021: +9.9% +9.9% 2021
2022: +13.9% +13.9% 2022
2023: +12.2% +12.2% 2023
2024: +4.1% +4.1% 2024
2025: +10.3% +10.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Erie County, Ohio and the United States
Period
County
Ohio
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+10.3%
+4.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+61%
+53%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+94%
+93%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Sandusky next to Erie County, Ohio and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Sandusky$113,100
Erie$199,700
Ohio$214,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Sandusky$905
Erie$933
Ohio$1,034
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Sandusky$50,139
Erie$71,993
Ohio$71,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Sandusky next to Erie County and Ohio
Measure
Sandusky
Erie County
Ohio
U.S.
Typical home value
$113,100 ▼43% below the county
$199,700
$214,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$905 ▼3% below the county
$933
$1,034
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$50,139 ▼30% below the county
$71,993
$71,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
50% ▼22 points below the county
72%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,470 ▼39% below the county
$2,428
$2,822
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.3% ▲0.08 points above the county
1.22%
1.31%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▲3 points above the county
43%
46%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Erie County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sandusky
For a typical $113,100 home in Sandusky, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sandusky's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$972a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$3,959
Cash to close
$7,352
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $50
Conventional, 5% down$951a month
Down payment
$5,655
Cash to close
$9,048
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $54
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$783a month
Down payment
$22,620
Cash to close
$26,013
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$887a month
Down payment
$16,965
Cash to close
$20,358
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sandusky
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$972
$3,959
$111,051
7.18%
FHA MIP · $50
$7,352
580
Conventional, 5% down
$951
$5,655
$107,445
7.18%
PMI · $54
$9,048
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$783
$22,620
$90,480
7.18%
None
$26,013
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$887
$16,965
$96,135
8.18%
None
$20,358
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Sandusky is $905 a month: 3% below the county. In Sandusky, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Erie County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,221 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.48 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Erie County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$927
$17.83
$37,080
1 bedroom
$977
$18.79
$39,080
2 bedrooms
$1,221
$23.48
$48,840
3 bedrooms
$1,531
$29.44
$61,240
4 bedrooms
$1,702
$32.73
$68,080
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Sandusky
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sandusky is in ZIP code 44870.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,250: $29 more than the fair market rent for Erie County ($1,221).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Sandusky, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
44870
$950
$1,000
$1,250
$1,570
$1,740
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
44870 $1,250$1,570
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Sandusky when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Sandusky. These are the largest.
Bay Shore Towers128 Perry St, Sandusky 44870158 homes, 134 low-income · Run by Erie Metropolitian Housing Authority · Average payment: $351 a month · Average wait: 10 months(419) 625-0262
Viewpoint Apts215 E Shoreline Dr, Sandusky 44870117 low-income homes · Studio: 9 · 1 bd: 108 · In service since 2006 · For older adults(419) 625-1101
Harborview Apts115 Franklin St, Sandusky 44870100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 99 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2008 · For older adults(419) 627-0544
Scattered Sites800 W Market St, Sandusky 4487093 low-income homes · Run by Erie Metropolitian Housing Authority · Average payment: $397 a month · Average wait: 19 months · Homes at several sites(419) 625-0262
Sunnyside Acres1440 Judy Ln, Sandusky 4487030 low-income homes · For families(419) 626-1979
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Erie County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sandusky or Erie County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Sandusky the same as in the rest of the state.
Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it.Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic).Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Sandusky or Erie County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Sandusky and all of Erie County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Sandusky?
The typical home value in Sandusky is $113,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Erie County it is $199,700.
How much does it cost to rent in Sandusky?
Typical rent in Sandusky is $905 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Erie County is $1,221.
What is the FHA loan limit in Sandusky?
Sandusky uses the FHA limit for all of Erie County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Sandusky?
The typical homeowner in Sandusky pays $1,470 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.3% of the home’s value; in Erie County, the rate is 1.22%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Sandusky?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Erie County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
