Inscription Rock · National Register of Historic Places
Kelleys Island’s story
174 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1852Kelleys Island is settled
Kelleys IslandOH
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Derek Jensen (Tysto) · Public domain
Population
263
2025 Census estimate · +1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$434K
+3.2% in a year
Household income
$83K
median
Median age
69.0
years
Jobs based here
46
A commuter town
Is Kelleys Island a good place to live?
Kelleys Island’s median age is 69 years, against 41.7 years in Ohio’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. 27% of the land in Kelleys Island is conserved, above both the Ohio town median (3.7%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Its National Register listings include Inscription Rock and Kelleys Island South Shore District. Kelleys Island has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Kelleys Island stand out
Where Kelleys Island beats most towns.
Small town
263 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
All 94 attractions →Cedar Point and 7 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Kelleys Island. Close and well known come first.
Big draw9 mi Theme parkCedar Point3.8M visitors a year
6 mi National MemorialPerry's Victory and International Peace Memorial124K visitors a year
7 mi CaveCrystal Cave11 mi Theme parkCastaway Bay10 mi Zoo & aquariumAfrican Safari Wildlife Park
33 mi MuseumAllen Memorial Art MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cedar Point: Larry Pieniazek, User:Lar, en:User:Lar (primary), CC BY 2.5 · Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial: NPS Photo, Public domain · Crystal Cave: Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 · Allen Memorial Art Museum: Daderot, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Kelleys Island: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kelleys Island, and how to reach them.
PowerOhio Edison16.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterKelleys Island Village water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Kelleys Island’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Ohio you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDirector, Erie County Board of ElectionsErie County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code4343843438 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Kelleys Island.
Schools
The schools Kelleys Island’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Kelleys Island Local school district. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelleys Island High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 2–6 | Grades 2–6 | 5 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
The typical home in Kelleys Island is valued at about $434K
The typical Kelleys Island home is worth about $434,000, up 3.2% in a year, 77% above the Ohio typical home. 92% of Kelleys Island households own their home.
$434KZillow home value
Typical home value
Kelleys Island$434K
Ohio$246K
+3.2%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Kelleys Island
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 87% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Kelleys Island since 1982.
13risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
1
paid flood claims since 1982
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
In Kelleys Island, trail density runs higher than in the typical Ohio or U.S. town
The trail density in Kelleys Island is 2.2 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Kelleys Island State Park, 578 acres with 7.5 miles of trail. 9.5 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves.
27.2%conserved
27.2%
conserved · 763 of 2,803 acres
9.5 mi
of trails · 2.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kelleys Island State Park | 7.5 mi | 578 |
| 2. Scheele Preserve | 0.5 mi | 46 |
| 3. Quinn Preserve | — | 37 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commute
Kelleys Island has 0.4 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Kelleys Island for work: only 2% work in town. 3.2% of residents live below the poverty line in Kelleys Island. The top destinations are Sandusky (19%), Perkins Township (15%) and Norwalk (6%).
2%work in town
| Kelleys Island | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.9% | 6.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Kelleys Island2%
Sandusky19%
Perkins Township15%
Norwalk6%
Monroeville3%
24 mi
median commute distance
46
jobs based in Kelleys Island
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Kelleys Island
Kelleys Island has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Kelleys Island’s July high is 82°F.
33″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–37°
Spring42–57°
Summer65–80°
Fall48–63°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Compared with most of Ohio and the rest of the country, more of Kelleys Island’s adults have high blood pressure
Among 994 Ohio towns, just 7 have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Kelleys Island. Kelleys Island beats the Ohio average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
| Kelleys Island | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 38% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 18% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Ohio
19 better7 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Kelleys Island | OH |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5.7% | 11.3% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.2% | 8.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.4% | 8.7% |
Firelands Regional Medical Center
10.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kelleys Island
18pages on Kelleys Island
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Kelleys Island; the nearest are
Bowling Green State University-FirelandsCommunity college · Public · Huron15.3 mi$6,407 in-state tuitionTerra State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fremont29 mi$5,748 in-state tuitionUniversity of ToledoUniversity or college · Public · Toledo47.1 mi$12,744 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Kelleys Island residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Ohio.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Kelleys Island for work
Where Kelleys Island’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
46jobs based in Kelleys Island
2%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
3 places in Kelleys Island on the National Register of Historic Places.
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About Kelleys Island
Village in Ohio, United States
Kelleys Island is a village in Erie County, Ohio, located on the largest American island in Lake Erie. The community occupies the entire island, which covers about 4.41 square miles (11.4 km2) and is known for its limestone and dolomite geology shaped by glacial activity. As of the 2020 census, the village has a population of 256 and functions primarily as a seasonal vacation destination. The island includes notable natural and historic features, including Inscription Rock and the Kelleys Island Historic District, which encompasses the entire island on the National Register of Historic Places.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 441 sq mi
- Elevation
- 597 ft
- ZIP code
- 43438
Questions about Kelleys Island
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kelleys Island, OH a good place to live?
Kelleys Island has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.