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Living in
Lima.
About
Life in Lima
Your commute would likely be short; the average is just 17 minutes. The city has real character rooted in its railroad and oil heritage, though you should know the population has declined about 5% in recent years, which reflects broader Rust Belt trends. Winters bring measurable snow (peak around 15cm in January) and spring through August sees regular rainfall, so be prepared for that humid continental climate.
Lima at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.9%
Foreign-Born
2.7%
Broadband Internet
87.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Lima: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lima, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (15.8%), and 2.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.2%
of households
Married Couples
27.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 13% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Lima
In Lima, rent runs 13% below the OH average, and home values are 50% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,165
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $151,335 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Lima
Unemployment in Lima is 0.9 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lima Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.1 min avg
How Lima residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lima, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 58 mi
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
Small hub638k passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 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 160% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lima runs 160% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
855.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,116.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lima Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Allen County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Allen County, which includes Lima, 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 | $81,500 |
| 2024 | 1 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,500 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 8 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Winter Weather | None reported |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Allen County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Allen County, which includes Lima, is typically good — 235 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
235
per year
Moderate Days
115
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Allen County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lima has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.2"
Annual Snowfall
18.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 19°F | 2.83" |
| Feb | 37°F | 21°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 3.02" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.97" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.38" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.29" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.37" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 3.14" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 2.72" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lima
Lima has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Mercy Health St Ritas Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Lima Memorial Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery
Acute Care Hospitals
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.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lima
Lima's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 66 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lima
Lima has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (66 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
66 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
90 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lima
Lima Public Library
650 W. Market St., Lima
Cities Near Lima
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lima?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lima FAQ
Is Lima, Ohio affordable?⌄
Lima's median rent is $903/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,240/year. Median home value is $107,200.
Is Lima, Ohio safe?⌄
Lima's violent crime rate was 855 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3116 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lima, Ohio?⌄
Lima has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lima, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Lima is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $903/month and median household income is $46,240/year. The median home value is $107,200. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lima, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Lima is 17 minutes, which is shorter than 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