© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lorain.
About
Life in Lorain
Lorain is a working-class Lake Erie city with real character and genuine affordability, but you should go in with clear eyes about what you're choosing. Housing costs are genuinely low—median rents around $887 and median home values near $139,000—which is a significant draw if you're budget-conscious. The unemployment rate sits at a reasonable 5.3%, though the job market reflects the city's industrial past; it's not a tech hub or knowledge economy center.
Lorain at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.2%
Foreign-Born
2.7%
Broadband Internet
83.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lorain: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lorain, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.1%), and 15.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.8%
of households
Married Couples
31.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 14% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Lorain
In Lorain, rent runs 14% below the OH average, and home values are 35% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,708
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $154,510 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Lorain
Unemployment in Lorain is 0.7 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 Lorain Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.9 min avg
How Lorain residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lorain, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 80 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 71% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lorain runs 71% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
564.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,355.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lorain 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 Lorain, 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 Lorain, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lorain County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lorain has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
43.6"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
115
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
152
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 20°F | 2.11" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.66" |
| Mar | 45°F | 29°F | 2.48" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.28" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.56" |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.74" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.50" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.96" |
| Dec | 39°F | 26°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lorain
Lorain has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
8.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Clear Vista Health & Wellness
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.8 mi away · Elyria
Mercy Allen Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Oberlin
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Avon
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.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lorain
Lorain's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lorain
Lorain has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
34 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
36 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
46 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lorain
Lorain Public Library
351 W. Sixth St., Lorain
South
2121 Homewood Dr, Lorain
Cities Near Lorain
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lorain?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lorain FAQ
Is Lorain, Ohio affordable?⌄
Lorain's median rent is $887/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,685/year. Median home value is $139,200.
Is Lorain, Ohio safe?⌄
Lorain's violent crime rate was 565 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1356 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lorain, Ohio?⌄
Lorain has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lorain, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Lorain is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $887/month and median household income is $48,685/year. The median home value is $139,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lorain, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Lorain is 25 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