44870 and 44601 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
44870
44601
Opportunity
63 · Top 34%
vs54 · Bottom 49%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
68 · Bottom 43%
vs63 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
90 · Top 10%
vs89 · Top 11%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
32 · Bottom 25%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Access
79 · Bottom 20%
vs95 · Top 38%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 18%
vs35 · Bottom 13%
Measured values
| Metric | 44870 | 44601 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,883 | 32,696 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,082 | $61,965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,855 | $31,011 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 657/sq mi | 399/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $163,200 | $154,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $922 | $828 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.9% | 63.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.1% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 16.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 34 | 13 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 88.9% | 62.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.0" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 43 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 23.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.92 | 19.61 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.3% | 52.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.4% | 53.7% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
44870
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
44601
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 44870 — Sandusky, OH · 44601 — Alliance, OH · How this is calculated: methodology