Rural living with room to breathe in Upper Sandusky
Upper Sandusky is a rural community of 6,500 people in the heart of Wyandot County. Despite its name, the town is about 60 miles south of Sandusky; instead, the name comes from the town’s location up the Sandusky River, which snakes its way through northern Ohio before emptying into Lake Erie. Strong agriculture and manufacturing industries in the area point to plenty of job opportunities. “I think folks who live here also like the fact that nothing feels too clustered. Everything has plenty of space,” says Mayor Kyle McColly, a lifelong resident. “We see a lot of families move here because they want a slower pace. They want to see where their kids are going, and they want to see their kids’ teachers at the grocery stores.” The town’s CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national score of 4.
Mix of early 1900s and midcentury homes
Most homes were built in the 1900s, including early 20th-century styles like National, American Foursquare and Colonial Revival as well as midcentury split-levels and ranch-style homes. Buyers can also find New Traditional homes in subdivisions. The median home sale price is about $170,000, on par with the Marion median. “We’ve had some new, smaller developments and some other plans in the works, but basically all the available farmland that was out there has pretty much been bought. It’s made the market competitive,” Mayor McColly says. “It was a buyer’s market a decade ago, and now it’s become a complete seller’s market."
Teachers make the difference at Upper Sandusky schools
Students can attend Upper Sandusky Exempted Village School District, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche and serves about 1,600 students. The district has three elementary schools, one middle school and a high school. “The schools are amazing because of the teachers,” Mayor McColly says. “The administration is fantastic, and we really have some of the best teachers around. That was true when I went to school, and it’s true now.” For kindergarten through eighth grade, parents can also choose St. Peter’s Catholic School, a private institution that is currently unrated by Niche.
Recreation on the Sandusky River and at Harrison Smith Park
Kayakers and canoers can launch onto the Sandusky River from Stepping Stones Park. Adjacent to the park, Stone Crossing Golf Club is a private nine-hole course open to members and their guests. Harrison Smith Park, the city’s largest park, features playgrounds, sports courts and the community swimming pool. “People get to know each other at the parks,” Mayor McColly says. “There’s a million different things to do. There are different biking routes that people can take, there’s disc golf, a dog park, the reservoir is huge, and we’re putting pickleball courts in at nearly every park.” In addition to fishing and kayaking at the Upper Sandusky Reservoir, a path encircles the water and connects to Harrison Smith Park.
Downtown is getting a facelift with new restaurants and amenities
The downtown area is undergoing a transformation after a fire in 2022 devastated several businesses. “Downtown is experiencing a complete shift. There are some folks doing development downtown, and they plan to do a boutique hotel with an event center, a coffee shop, a bar and restaurant,” Mayor McColly says. “There’s a lot more energy and excitement and a lot more draw to our downtown.” Bars and pubs include Traum Brewing, Fort 88 and T&T Underground, and there’s an abundance of pizza joints in town, including A.J.’s Heavenly Pizza, Cheers 2 U and East of Chicago. Other favorites include The Steer Barn, a steakhouse in a retrofitted barn with outdoor seating and live music, and The Village Restaurant, which serves up diner fare and homemade pies. Residents can grab necessities at Save A Lot, Walmart or A&A Grocery, a local grocer downtown. Findlay has retail shopping about 30 minutes away.
Major employers in town and nearby
Proximity to U.S. routes 30 and 23 has drawn employers such as Kasai, Kalmbach Feeds and Archem Inc., and Louis Dreyfus has broken ground on a new soybean processing plant slated to open in 2026. Although rail lines in town don’t currently cause delays, Mayor McColly says that could change as Louis Dreyfus plans to ship product by rail. Drivers can get to Findlay and Interstate 75 in 40 miles. Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport are about 70 miles away, a 90-minute drive. Wyandot Memorial Hospital offers medical care in town.
Year-round events, including the Fantasy of Lights
Residents gather downtown for events like First Thursdays and an annual car show every September. “We have Wyanstock, where the Wyandot County Young Professionals have music around the Fourth of July, and people camp all weekend,” Mayor McColly says. The Fantasy of Lights, another holiday highlight, features a drive-through light display at Harrison Smith Park. “There’s a group that strings Christmas lights on every square inch of the park you can imagine,” he says.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
