CountyScore

Erie County

Ohio · OH

#56 in Ohio
66.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Erie County, Ohio

Erie Slightly Below National Median

Erie County scores 67.5 on the composite index, above the national median of 50.0 and in the top 45% nationally. The county shows competitive livability despite modest individual scores.

Barely Trails Ohio State Average

At 67.5, Erie falls just short of Ohio's state average of 68.8, placing it slightly below the middle tier of Ohio's 88 counties. The county performs in line with typical statewide expectations.

Balanced Affordability and Access

Erie offers a cost score of 78.1 with reasonable housing prices (median $183,900, rent $882/month) and tax rates at 1.267%. The county provides decent value for families seeking Lake Erie access and modest industrial/tourism economies.

Income Lags; Data Gaps Limit View

Median household income of $68,431 trails Defiance and Delaware but exceeds rural peers, with an income score of 28.1. Missing data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors prevents a fuller livability assessment.

Moderate Choice for Lake Seekers

Erie County appeals to middle-income families drawn to Lake Erie living and modest outdoor recreation. With balanced affordability and reasonable income expectations, it suits those valuing waterfront access over urban amenities or extreme cost savings.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax66.6Cost78.1SafetyComing SoonHealth73.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.1Risk38.7WaterComing Soon
🏛66.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡38.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Erie County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Broomfield County
Colorado
66.6
Median income: $121,025
Pueblo County
Colorado
66.6
Median income: $62,250
Coffee County
Georgia
66.6
Median income: $50,175
Wayne County
Georgia
66.6
Median income: $49,562
Tippecanoe County
Indiana
66.6
Median income: $58,622

Deep Dives

Erie County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Erie County

via TaxByCounty

Erie taxes run below national average

At 1.267%, Erie's effective tax rate sits below the national median of 1.54%, positioning the county in the lower half of U.S. jurisdictions. The median property tax of $2,330 falls short of the national median of $2,690 by 13%, offering modest relief to homeowners.

Erie ranks slightly above state average

Erie's 1.267% effective rate edges above Ohio's state average of 1.148%, placing the county in Ohio's upper-middle tier. The median property tax of $2,330 exceeds the statewide average of $2,145 by 9%, reflecting Erie's moderate tax position.

Erie taxes slightly above regional peers

Compared to nearby Defiance (1.117%) and Crawford (1.221%), Erie sits in the middle with its 1.267% rate. Erie's median home value of $183,900 aligns closely with Cuyahoga, yet Erie's rate remains substantially lower—a more favorable combination.

What an Erie homeowner pays

On the median Erie home valued at $183,900, homeowners pay approximately $2,330 per year in property taxes—roughly $194 monthly. With mortgage escrow, annual costs rise modestly to $2,376, keeping Erie's burden reasonable.

Every dollar saved matters

Erie homeowners should request a property tax abatement review to ensure their assessed values align with recent comparable sales. Even modest overassessments can be corrected through the county auditor's free appeal process.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Erie County

via CostByCounty

Erie County aligns closely with national affordability

Renters in Erie County spend 15.5% of their income on rent, nearly matching Ohio's state average of 15.6% and sitting close to national housing cost patterns. With a median household income of $68,431 (8% below the national average) and monthly rents of $882, Erie offers reasonably balanced housing economics.

Middle-of-pack affordability in Ohio

Erie County's 15.5% rent-to-income ratio sits right at Ohio's state average, with rents of $882 slightly above the state median of $873. This middle-tier positioning makes Erie a stable, predictable housing market without the affordability pressures of more expensive urban counties.

Slightly pricier than rural northwest Ohio

Erie's $882 monthly rent exceeds nearby Darke County ($747) and Defiance County ($826), reflecting its larger population and industrial base along Lake Erie. Home values of $183,900 position Erie between rural counties and more affluent suburban markets.

Balanced budget demands in Lake Erie region

A typical Erie County renter earning $68,431 annually pays $882 monthly in rent, consuming 15.5% of gross income, while homeowners spend $945 on $183,900 median-valued homes. These ratios allow reasonable household budget flexibility despite below-average county incomes.

Erie offers steady housing stability

If you value predictable, middle-tier housing costs without surprises, Erie County delivers reliable affordability patterns that match statewide norms. The county's Lake Erie location and industrial employment base make it an underrated option for relocators seeking stability over premium amenities.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Erie County

via IncomeByCounty

Erie County nearly matches national income

Erie County's median household income of $68,431 sits 8.4% below the national median of $74,755, placing the county slightly below the national average. The gap reflects Ohio's regional income dynamics and manufacturing-based economy.

Slightly above Ohio average income

Erie County's median household income of $68,431 exceeds Ohio's state average of $68,101 by $330, positioning it right at the state median. Per capita income of $39,579 outpaces the state average of $35,642 by a meaningful margin.

Erie earns moderately in regional context

Erie County ($68,431) trails Defiance ($73,615) and Delaware ($130,088) but outearns Crawford ($55,477), Fayette ($60,047), and Cuyahoga ($62,823). The county's position reflects a mixed economy with manufacturing, agriculture, and lakefront communities.

Manageable housing costs in Erie

Erie County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.5% keeps housing costs comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, leaving room for savings. The median home value of $183,900 aligns well with the $68,431 median household income.

Erie residents: strengthen financial foundation

Erie County's household income of $68,431 supports solid retirement savings through 401(k)s and IRAs, with affordable housing freeing up money for investments. Residents should aim to build 3-6 months of emergency savings and explore diversified investment accounts.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Erie County

via HealthByCounty

Erie approaches national health benchmarks

Erie County's 75.1-year life expectancy sits about 4 years below the U.S. average of 79.1 years. The county's 16.4% poor or fair health rate is the lowest in this profile group and beats the national average of 18%.

Above average health outcomes statewide

Erie's 75.1-year life expectancy slightly exceeds Ohio's 74.8-year state average, positioning the county in the upper tier statewide. With just 16.4% reporting poor or fair health, Erie ranks among Ohio's healthier counties.

Strong performance in regional comparison

Erie's 75.1-year life expectancy and 16.4% poor or fair health rate both exceed most regional neighbors, approaching Defiance's (76.2 years) and Fairfield's (76.4 years) outcomes. The county demonstrates solid health management for a Lake Erie region location.

Good access with reasonable coverage

Erie has 78 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and a 6.4% uninsured rate, both performing above the state average. With 282 mental health providers per 100K, the county supports robust behavioral health access.

Secure your family's coverage

Erie's 6.4% uninsured rate shows most residents have protection, but gaps remain. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 211 Ohio to ensure your household has insurance that covers your family's needs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Erie County

via RiskByCounty

Erie County's moderate disaster exposure

Erie County scores 61.35 on the composite risk scale, earning a 'Relatively Low' rating that slightly exceeds national averages. The county faces meaningful but manageable natural disaster vulnerability across multiple hazard types.

Above-average risk for northern Ohio

At 61.35, Erie County's risk score exceeds Ohio's state average of 55.03 by about 11%, reflecting the county's Lake Erie proximity and associated water-related hazards. The county represents moderate-to-high risk in Ohio's broader risk landscape.

Elevated risk along Lake Erie shore

Erie County (61.35) faces higher disaster risk than nearby Crawford County (35.24) and Defiance County (41.89), reflecting its lakefront location. The county's risk profile falls between rural inland counties and heavily urbanized areas like Cuyahoga County (98.00).

Tornadoes, floods, and lake-related hazards

Tornado risk (77.93) and flood risk (71.79) represent Erie County's primary concerns, both in the elevated range. Earthquake risk (62.09) and hurricane risk (49.90) add secondary layers of exposure, while wildfire risk (23.03) remains minimal.

Prioritize water and wind protection

Erie County residents should maintain comprehensive flood insurance and storm-rated windows or shutters for tornado protection. Given the county's Lake Erie proximity, ensure property drainage is adequate and consider elevation or flood-proofing for structures in vulnerable areas.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.