Independent Order of Odd Fellows Temple · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Sandusky is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Sandusky trails Ohio on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sandusky. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sandusky
Sandusky is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Sandusky is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Sandusky
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.3%), vs 14.1% across Ohio. Utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 8.3%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 22.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Sandusky
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.2%), vs 8% across Ohio. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.7% across Ohio. Diabetes is also above the state: 17.3%, vs 13.2% across Ohio. In all, Sandusky runs above Ohio on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Sandusky has a top-rated hospital
Firelands Regional Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Ohio figure falls outside Sandusky’s likely range.
What’s behind Sandusky’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sandusky is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #947 of 993 in Ohio. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 15% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 3%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Sandusky’s median household income is $50,139; among the 5,845 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.5% of Sandusky adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Out of every 100 Sandusky adults…
Sandusky runs above OH on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Sandusky
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Sandusky, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Sandusky; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Sandusky adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Sandusky adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Sandusky runs above Ohio.
4 in 10 Sandusky adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Sandusky and the towns around it
Sandusky’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | D− | 45.8% | 17.3% | 20.4% | CDC place |
| Margaretta Township | C− | 41.3% | 15.3% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Huron Township | B | 37.5% | 13.4% | 12.5% | ZIP codes |
| Perkins Township | C− | 42.8% | 16% | 17.6% | ZIP 44870 |
| Danbury Township | B | 36.4% | 14.3% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sandusky adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sandusky
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sandusky is better than Ohio on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Sandusky’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sandusky | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.3%22.6–28.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.1–18.9 | 13.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%18.1–22.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.8%39.1–52.9 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.2%40.4–48.2 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34–42 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%30.2–36.7 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8–9.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.2%10.1–12.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.2%17.9–24.7 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%18–22.8 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.1%30.6–39.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.1–17.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%36.3–46.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.2%78.2–84.2 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.8%51.3–58.3 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.4–85.9 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%76–80.9 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.6%60–68.9 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%69.8–82.1 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.7–29.9 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.3%31.3–41.8 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.4–27.4 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.3%20.5–26.3 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.4%15.2–19.7 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%12–15.3 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.5%20–25.3 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.1–39.3 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.6–20.7 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.7–19.4 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.4%6.7–8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.3–12.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Sandusky
Is Sandusky a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sandusky is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #947 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sandusky?
CDC estimates 45.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.1% and 52.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sandusky?
Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Sandusky’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sandusky have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.3%), against 8% across Ohio.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Sandusky more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sandusky.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.