About

Life in Vermilion

Vermilion is a community of 10,451 people in Ohio. The median household income is $69,701, median rent runs about $1,099 per month, and median home values are around $184,000. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

Vermilion at a Glance

Population, income, housing and more

Median Age

50.6 yrs

Poverty Rate

6.7%

Foreign-Born

1.2%

Broadband Internet

88.0%

of households

Population Growth

+0.2%

recent change · Census Bureau

Median household income

Vermilion$69,701
Ohio avg$71,389
US$80,734

Demographics1.2% foreign-born, most often from Germany

Who lives in Vermilion: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin

In Vermilion, the largest foreign-born group is from Germany (27.3%), and 0.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.

Under 18

19.0%

of residents

65 and Older

25.8%

of residents

Households with Kids

24.1%

anyone under 18

Living Alone

33.2%

of households

Married Couples

50.8%

of households

Avg Household Size

2.20

people

Race & Ethnicity

White92.8%
Two or more races2.1%
Asian0.6%

Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic

Top countries of origin (foreign-born)

Germany27.3%
Korea14.9%
Thailand12.4%
Guyana10.7%
Canada8.3%
Colombia7.4%
Syria5.8%
Lebanon5.8%
Egypt5.0%
Other Australian and New Zealand Subregion2.5%

Languages Spoken at Home

English only98.9%
Spanish0.4%
Korean0.3%
Arabic0.2%
Other Asian/Pacific0.2%
Other Indo-European0.1%

Cost of Livingrent 6% above OH average

Rent, home values, and income in Vermilion

In Vermilion, rent runs 6% above the OH average, and home values are 15% below the OH average.

Median rent (per month)

Vermilion$1,099
Ohio avg$1,034
US$1,413

Median home value

Vermilion$183,600
Ohio avg$214,800
US$332,700

Rent Burdened

24.5%

spending 30%+ of income on rent

Severely Rent Burdened

20.8%

spending 50%+

Cost of Living Index

93.9

metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100

Median Property Tax

$2,595

per year, owner-occupied homes

Homeowners

80.9%

of occupied homes are owned

Typical Home Built

1967

median year built

Vacant Homes

13.1%

of housing units

Home Value Trend

$201,667
$270,640
202120222023202420252026

Latest: $270,640 (September 2026)

Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH

Unemployment in Vermilion

Unemployment in Lorain County, which includes Vermilion, is close to the OH average.

Unemployment rate

Vermilion4.3%
Ohio avg4.6%
US4.3%

Vermilion: Lorain County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average

Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend

6.2%
6.2%
5.1%
4.4%
10.1%
5.8%
4.9%
3.9%
4%
4.3%
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Lorain County (county-wide) · Annual averages

Vermilion is about 3% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.

What Vermilion Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry

Education & health care29.0%
Retail14.9%
Manufacturing11.3%
Arts, hospitality & food service9.1%
Professional & business services8.0%
Construction4.7%
Transportation & utilities2.9%
Public administration2.8%

City residents, wherever they work

Commute25.8 min avg

How Vermilion residents get to work, and the nearest airports

In Vermilion, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.

How People Get to Work

Drive alone83.7%
Carpool7.6%
Public transit0.0%
Walk0.3%
Work from home7.0%
Other1.4%

Commute Time Distribution

Under 15 min26.1%
15–29 min42.8%
30–44 min18.7%
45–59 min8.4%
60+ min4.1%

Nearest airports · with airline service

  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

    Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025

    27 mi
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

    Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025

    75 mi

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 97% below national average

Crime rates for 2025

Violent crime in Vermilion runs 97% below the national average.

Violent Crime Rate

9.3

per 100,000 residents

Below average (329 national, 2025)

Property Crime Rate

213.9

per 100,000 residents

Below average (1,552 national, 2025)

Vermilion 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).

Ice storm · HighStrong wind · HighTornado · HighWinter weather · HighCold wave · Moderate

Lorain County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025

In Lorain County, which includes Vermilion, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.

Most common events:

Thunderstorm WindHailWinter StormFlash FloodHigh Wind

Storm events by year

YearEventsTop TypeProperty Damage
20256Thunderstorm Wind$31,000
202411Thunderstorm Wind$260,600
20239Thunderstorm Wind$3.8M
202212Thunderstorm Wind$831,000
20219High Wind$20,000
202015Thunderstorm Wind$297,000
201918Thunderstorm Wind$487,000
20185Thunderstorm 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

Vermilion is about 3% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.

Air Quality39 median AQI — Good

Days by air quality category (2025)

Air quality in Lorain County, which includes Vermilion, is typically good.

Median AQI

39

Lorain County, county-wide

Vermilion is about 3% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.

Climate80°F summers, 22°F winters

30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation

Vermilion 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

36.7"

Annual Snowfall

47.0"

Hot Days/Year

12

days above 90°F

Freeze Days/Year

115

days below 32°F

Rainy Days/Year

152

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)
10°30°50°70°90°4"Jan: 2.11" precipitationFeb: 1.66" precipitationMar: 2.48" precipitationApr: 3.28" precipitationMay: 3.64" precipitationJun: 3.87" precipitationJul: 3.56" precipitationAug: 3.63" precipitationSep: 3.74" precipitationOct: 3.50" precipitationNov: 2.96" precipitationDec: 2.29" precipitation20°JJan: high 34°F, low 20°FFFeb: high 36°F, low 21°FMMar: high 45°F, low 29°FAApr: high 59°F, low 39°FMMay: high 70°F, low 49°FJJun: high 79°F, low 59°F82°JJul: high 82°F, low 62°FAAug: high 80°F, low 60°FSSep: high 75°F, low 53°FOOct: high 63°F, low 43°FNNov: high 49°F, low 34°FDDec: high 39°F, low 26°F
Show month-by-month table ↓
MonthHighLowPrecip
Jan34°F20°F2.11"
Feb36°F21°F1.66"
Mar45°F29°F2.48"
Apr59°F39°F3.28"
May70°F49°F3.64"
Jun79°F59°F3.87"
Jul82°F62°F3.56"
Aug80°F60°F3.63"
Sep75°F53°F3.74"
Oct63°F43°F3.50"
Nov49°F34°F2.96"
Dec39°F26°F2.29"

Healthcare

Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Vermilion

Uninsured

6.0%

of residents

No hospitals inside Vermilion's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles

Mercy Regional Medical Center

Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Lorain

Clear Vista Health & Wellness

Psychiatric · 4.9 mi away · Lorain

Not rated

Mercy Allen Hospital

Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Oberlin

Adult Health · vs. the typical US place

Obesity36.2%US 36.8%
Diabetes13.5%US 12.6%
High blood pressure39.6%US 37.1%
Current smoking14.0%US 15.0%
No leisure-time physical activity26.2%US 26.6%
Depression25.1%US 23.0%
Asthma10.8%US 10.7%
Routine checkup in past year81.5%US 78.2%

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.

Education21.1:1 student/teacher ratio

Schools and degree attainment in Vermilion

Vermilion's student/teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Public Schools

4

within city limits

Private Schools

1

within city limits

College Degree Rate

32.3%

adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher

Student/Teacher Ratio

21.1:1

National avg 16:1

Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year

Parks & Recreationclosest: Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, 30 mi

Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Vermilion

Vermilion has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial (30 mi away).

Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas

Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial

Memorial

30 mi away

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

National Park

40 mi away

James A Garfield National Historic Site

National Historic Site

53 mi away

First Ladies National Historic Site

National Historic Site

65 mi away

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

National Battlefield Park

65 mi away

Public Libraries in Vermilion

Ritter Public Library

5680 Liberty Ave., Vermilion

Central library~64 hrs/week

Cities Near Vermilion

The closest cities within 60 miles

Planning a move to Vermilion?

Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.

Moving to Vermilion →

Vermilion FAQ

Is Vermilion, Ohio affordable?⌄

Vermilion's median rent is $1,099/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,701/year. Median home value is $183,600.

Is Vermilion, Ohio safe?⌄

Vermilion's violent crime rate was 9 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 214 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.

What is the job market like in Vermilion, Ohio?⌄

Lorain County, which includes Vermilion, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.

What is the cost of living in Vermilion, Ohio?⌄

The cost of living in Vermilion is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,099/month and median household income is $69,701/year. The median home value is $183,600. About 25% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

How is the commute in Vermilion, Ohio?⌄

The average commute in Vermilion is 26 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