Relocation profile · Federal data
Sandusky, OH
BEA RPP 89.3 ranks #83 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 89.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,106
- 2BR rent / mo
- $59,410
- Median salary
- 53.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Sandusky ranks #164 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (53.2/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #164
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 11,883,304
- metro-area population
- 293
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 3,586
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: schools (14/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Sandusky ranks #164 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,106/mo, median salary $59,410; LiveAbility Score 53.2/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 89.3 ranks #83 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.3 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,106/mo.
LiveAbility 53.2/100 keeps Sandusky in the middle third (#164 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Sandusky area is 43,460.
Sandusky vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
53 Top 43% higher than 57% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Sandusky housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Sandusky MSA; housing RPP 59.5 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,106/mo.
Sandusky wages and employment
Sandusky posts 43,460 total employment with median salary $59,410 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,590 |
| Cashiers | $28,530 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,000 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,610 |
| General and Operations Managers | $81,790 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Sandusky area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Sandusky area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Sandusky's composite Life Score is 53.9/100 (D), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Sandusky ranks #164 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 53.2/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Sandusky - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
80 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
79 /100
- Safety
Safety
57 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
51 /100
- Climate
Climate
51 /100
- Job market 27
Job market
27 /100
- Schools 14
Schools
14 /100
What this shows Sandusky's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 14/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Sandusky to
Metros near Sandusky on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Sandusky on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Sandusky cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Sandusky wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Sandusky?
Sandusky runs a $59,410 median salary at a 89.3 cost index, ranking #164 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Sandusky's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Sandusky head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Sandusky
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.