The Town FilesElyria, Ohio
City in Lorain County · population 52,656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,100
- Household income
- $54,945
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.4
Elyria is a city of 52,656 people in Lorain County, Ohio. The median home is worth $156,100, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 79% of Ohio towns, hipper than 79% of Ohio towns.
How Elyria ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elyria is worth $156,100, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $54,945, which is more affordable than 42% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elyria | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,100 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $906 | $914 |
| Median household income | $54,945 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Elyria
| People | Elyria | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in Elyria
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elyria since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 552 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 7, 2011.
Severe weather in Lorain County since 1996
Lorain County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 15, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1580: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Lorain County
Lorain County had 98,291 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,721 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Elyria itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Elyria
12 public schools with 6,323 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elyria High School | 9-12 | 1,603 | 14.1 |
| Eastern Heights Middle School | 5-8 | 554 | 12.9 |
| Eastern Heights Elementary School | K-4 | 547 | 16.6 |
| Northwood Middle School | 5-8 | 545 | 13.0 |
| Westwood Middle School | 5-8 | 498 | 12.5 |
| Westwood Elementary School | K-4 | 472 | 18.9 |
| Ely Elementary School | K-4 | 465 | 20.2 |
| Hamilton Elementary School | PK-4 | 436 | 18.2 |
| Constellation Schools: Elyria Community (charter) | K-8 | 403 | 23.7 |
| Northwood Elementary School | K-4 | 344 | 19.1 |
| Elyria Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 269 | 19.2 |
| Black River Career Prep High School (charter) | 9-12 | 187 | 26.7 |
Towns near Elyria
- North Ridgeville, OH4.3 mi · 35,280 people · home $270,100
- Sheffield, OH5.5 mi · 4,135 people · home $292,700
- Lorain, OH5.7 mi · 65,211 people · home $139,200
- Amherst, OH6.9 mi · 12,681 people · home $239,200
- Avon, OH6.9 mi · 24,847 people · home $395,900
- Grafton, OH7.6 mi · 5,895 people · home $216,100
- Sheffield Lake, OH7.6 mi · 8,957 people · home $167,000
- Oberlin, OH8.7 mi · 8,555 people · home $225,600
Elyria questions
Is Elyria, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elyria scores better for retirees than 13% of Ohio towns and quieter than 10%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Elyria?
The median owner-occupied home in Elyria is valued at $156,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,945, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Elyria?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 43.6 inches of snow.
Does Elyria get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elyria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)