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Living in
Elyria.
About
Life in Elyria
Elyria is a solid mid-sized city in the Cleveland metro that offers real affordability without feeling isolated—you're close enough to Cleveland for job opportunities and cultural amenities, but far enough out that housing costs stay reasonable. A median home value around $156,000 and median rent under $900 means your money stretches further than in many comparable regions, though the job market here is modest and you may find yourself commuting into Cleveland for better employment options anyway. The community is aging slightly and has experienced modest population decline, which can feel like slower energy in some neighborhoods, but it also means less competition for housing and a generally quieter pace.
Elyria at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
87.0%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Elyria: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elyria, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (20.0%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
18.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Elyria
In Elyria, rent runs 12% below the OH average, and home values are 27% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,127
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $186,585 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Elyria
Unemployment in Elyria is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Elyria Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.6 min avg
How Elyria residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elyria, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 87 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 44% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Elyria runs 44% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
185.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,329.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Elyria Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lorain County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lorain County, which includes Elyria, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $260,600 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.8M |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $831,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | High Wind | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $297,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $487,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $143,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lorain County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lorain County, which includes Elyria, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lorain County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elyria has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
43.6"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
115
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 22°F | 2.84" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.37" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.99" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.75" |
| May | 73°F | 51°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.04" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.13" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.11" |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 4.05" |
| Oct | 65°F | 46°F | 3.63" |
| Nov | 52°F | 36°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 3.07" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Elyria
Elyria has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Allen Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Oberlin
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Lorain
Clear Vista Health & Wellness
Psychiatric · 8 mi away · Lorain
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elyria
Elyria's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Elyria (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,842 students · in-state tuition $41,386 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,100 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elyria
Elyria has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
29 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
41 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
55 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elyria
Elyria Public Library
211 Second St., Elyria
South Branch
1611 Middle Ave, Elyria
West River Branch
1194 W River St, Elyria
Cities Near Elyria
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elyria?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elyria FAQ
Is Elyria, Ohio affordable?⌄
Elyria's median rent is $906/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,945/year. Median home value is $156,100.
Is Elyria, Ohio safe?⌄
Elyria's violent crime rate was 186 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1330 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elyria, Ohio?⌄
Elyria has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elyria, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Elyria is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $906/month and median household income is $54,945/year. The median home value is $156,100. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elyria, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Elyria is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from