Sandusky, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sandusky, Michigan had a total population of 2,694, the 258th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $56,563, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.1%.
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
Sandusky Quick Facts
How Sandusky Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,534 | 2,694 | +6.3% |
| Median household income | $48,151 | $56,563 | No clear change (+17.5%) |
| Median home value¹ | $101,410 | $113,800 | No clear change (+12.2%) |
| Median gross rent | $697 | $784 | +12.5% |
How Sandusky Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 89.1%
- Black: 2.2%
- Hispanic: 3.8%
- Asian: 0.4%
- Other: 0.1%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 10.0%
- HS Diploma: 43.1%
- Some College: 19.7%
- Associate's: 11.7%
- Bachelor's: 10.1%
- Graduate+: 5.4%
Sandusky Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Sanilac County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croswell | 2,488 | $55,081 | 17.1% | $149,600 |
| Marlette | 1,850 | $48,571 | 18.0% | $132,300 |
| Lexington | 1,126 | $45,694 | 11.9% | $184,500 |
| Deckerville | 1,042 | $53,125 | 20.7% | $82,100 |
| Port Sanilac | 812 | $52,083 | 11.7% | $158,800 |
| Peck | 589 | $54,758 | 11.1% | $117,000 |
| Carsonville | 463 | $57,647 | 19.3% | $101,300 |
| Applegate | 255 | $65,625 | 12.6% | $96,500 |
| Minden City | 203 | $49,583 | 21.2% | $106,300 |
| Snover | 192 | $46,346 | 21.9% | $120,500 |
Cities Similar to Sandusky
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vassar | 2,707 | $59,444 | $143,200 | 17.4% | 14.8% |
| Mattawan | 2,692 | $61,587 | $181,600 | 22.0% | 12.1% |
| Kalkaska | 2,539 | $57,143 | $155,600 | 18.6% | 13.3% |
| Kincheloe | 2,524 | $57,644 | $110,700 | 23.5% | 25.1% |
| K. I. Sawyer | 2,817 | $60,833 | $87,300 | 17.2% | 13.9% |
Population Overview
Sandusky is a small community located in Michigan, within Sanilac County. The total population is 2,694. It ranks as the 258th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sandusky is 39.1 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sandusky is $56,563. This is 22% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $113,800. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Sandusky is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 55.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Sandusky has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sandusky, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sandusky, Michigan?
Sandusky, Michigan has a population of 2,694 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sandusky, MI?
The median household income in Sandusky is $56,563, which is 30% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sandusky, MI?
The poverty rate in Sandusky is 16.1%. This means approximately 400 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sandusky, Michigan?
Sandusky's population is 89.1% White, 2.2% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sandusky, MI?
The median home value in Sandusky is $113,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Sandusky, Michigan?
15.6% of adults (25+) in Sandusky hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.