Erie County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Erie County, Ohio had an estimated 73,841 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 75,615, across 252 square miles. County output reached $5.36 bn in 2024, 1,802 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 102 7(a) approvals worth $39.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Erie County
How many people live in Erie County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202474,581
- Households32,482
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$71,993
- Median age45.3
- Median gross rent$933 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$199,700
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over54,022
- Population under 1814,492
- Share under 1819.4 percent
- Population 65 and over17,683
- Share 65 and over23.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6442,406
- Civilian labor force38,075
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.4 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties34th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included757th of 3,222
Erie County is the 34th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.7 percent against 19.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Erie County
Is Erie County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202473,841
- Census 2020 base population75,615
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-284
- Births, 2024624
- Deaths, 2024986
- Natural change, 2024-362
- Net domestic migration, 2024-27
- Net international migration, 2024111
- Total net migration, 202484
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-286
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2579th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.35 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Erie County
Where are people moving to Erie County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,917
- People arriving, from those returns3,121
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,905
- Net household movement12
- Adjusted gross income arriving$122.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$15.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,823
- Average income of a leaving household$56,254
- Largest single originLorain County (308 households)
- Largest single destinationLorain County (346 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain County | 308 | 546 | $17.6 m |
| Huron County | 301 | 543 | $14.9 m |
| Cuyahoga County | 156 | 236 | $17.8 m |
| Sandusky County | 127 | 215 | $5.5 m |
| Ottawa County | 85 | 134 | $3.9 m |
| Franklin County | 62 | 87 | $3.8 m |
| Lucas County | 40 | 49 | $1.7 m |
| Summit County | 35 | 49 | $2.2 m |
Households arriving report $7,569 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Lorain County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Erie County
What is the Erie County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.36 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.34 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.4 percent
- GDP change over five years39.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes30th of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes685th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$71,812
Output grew 0.4 percent in the latest year and 39.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Erie County
Employment by industry in Erie County
- Covered employment, annual average36,283
- Establishments reporting2,074
- Average annual pay$49,985
- Average weekly wage$961
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,507
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,084
- Manufacturing, employment5,445
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,922
- Retail trade, employment5,033
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,939
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,486
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,513
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment3,655
- Construction, employment1,065
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 5,507 | 281 | $25,084 |
| Manufacturing | 5,445 | 112 | $69,922 |
| Retail trade | 5,033 | 300 | $34,939 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,486 | 216 | $57,513 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 3,655 | 77 | $34,643 |
| Construction | 1,065 | 152 | $62,225 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,006 | 85 | $66,632 |
| Other services, except public administration | 789 | 159 | $33,009 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 5,507 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Erie County
How many businesses are in Erie County?
- Establishments, all industries1,802
- Employment at those establishments32,249
- Annual payroll$1.61 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Erie County
Building permits in Erie County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024113
- Declared construction value permitted$38.6 m
- Single family units authorized107
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units5.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$341,946
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.5
Single-family homes are 94.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Erie County
SBA loans in Erie County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded102
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$39.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$389,724
- Median 7(a) approval$95,900
- 10th percentile approval$21,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,548,730
- Largest single approval$3,500,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)807
- Jobs per approval7.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active30
- Distinct industries receiving approvals64
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter84
- Franchise loans13
- Franchise share of approvals12.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (7)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (55)
- 504 approvals recorded28
- 504 gross approval dollars$28.3 m
- Average 504 approval$1,012,143
- Median 504 approval$529,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval17.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.5
- Most active CDCGrowth Capital Corp. (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$68.1 m
The average approval of $389,724 sits well above the median of $95,900, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Erie County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Erie County
Do SBA loans in Erie County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded21
- Paid in full21
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled12
- Status: Paid in full21
- Status: Exempt from disclosure58
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
Only 21 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Erie County
SBA lending by place in Erie County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending11
- Vermilion, approvals35
- Sandusky, approvals31
- Huron, approvals19
- Milan, approvals6
- Berlin Heights, approvals3
- Vermillion, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion | 35 | $7,615,200 |
| Sandusky | 31 | $15,448,300 |
| Huron | 19 | $6,000,300 |
| Milan | 6 | $8,220,000 |
| Berlin Heights | 3 | $532,000 |
| Vermillion | 3 | $421,000 |
| Castilla | 1 | $1,250,000 |
| Castalia | 1 | $125,000 |
| 3 other borrower cities | 3 | $140,000 |
Vermilion accounts for 35 approvals against 31 in Sandusky. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Erie County
How large is Erie County?
- Land area252 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties87th of 88
- Width, east to west31.6 mi
- Height, north to south23.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land296
- Establishments per square mile7.15
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Erie County
Flood risk in Erie County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Erie County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390153
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Erie County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Erie County (community 390153), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Erie County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 90.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Erie County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Erie County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202474,581
- Households32,482
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$71,993
- Median age45.3
Common questions
Erie County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Erie County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 73,841 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 74,581, in 32,482 households, ranking 34th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Erie County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 75,615, to 73,841 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 624 births against 986 deaths, with net migration of 84. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Erie County?
$71,993. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,700, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $933 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Erie County?
1,802 establishments, employing 32,249 people with an annual payroll of $1.61 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Erie County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 5,507 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 36,283 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,985, or $961 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Erie County?
102 7(a) approvals totaling $39.8 m since FY2020, across 30 lenders, with a median approval of $95,900, plus 28 504 approvals worth $28.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Erie County?
113 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $38.6 m. Multifamily was 5.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Erie County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Erie County come from?
The largest single origin is Lorain County, with 308 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,823 against $56,254 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Erie County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Erie County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Erie County
Cities and places in Erie.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Erie County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | city | 24,606 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Vermilion | city | 10,343 | 35 | 19.0 percent here, 81.0 percent Lorain County |
| Bellevue | city | 8,187 | None recorded | 4.3 percent here, 51.0 percent Huron County, 44.7 percent Sandusky County |
| Huron | city | 6,757 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Milan | village | 1,774 | 6 | 58.2 percent here, 41.8 percent Huron County |
| Castalia | village | 1,230 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Berlin Heights | village | 1,089 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bay View | village | 622 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whites Landing | CDP | 386 | None recorded | 64.0 percent here, 36.0 percent Sandusky County |
| Bloomingville | CDP | 302 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mitiwanga | CDP | 228 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Birmingham | CDP | 132 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kelleys Island | village | 128 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Beulah Beach | CDP | 126 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crystal Rock | CDP | 104 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 102 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Erie County, the largest being Vermillion (3), Castilla (1), Lorain (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby