The Town FilesLima, Ohio
City in Allen County · population 35,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,200
- Household income
- $46,240
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.8
Lima is a city of 35,579 people in Allen County, Ohio. The median home is worth $107,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 89% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 88% of Ohio towns.
How Lima 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 Lima is worth $107,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $46,240, which is more affordable than 74% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 45.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lima | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $903 | $914 |
| Median household income | $46,240 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 45.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Lima
| People | Lima | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Lima
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 5.2 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 12, 1980.
Severe weather in Allen County since 1996
Allen County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| August 27, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1720: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Allen County
Allen County had 49,690 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,790 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lima itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Lima
21 public schools with 9,007 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,000 | 15.2 |
| Bath Elementary School | PK-5 | 766 | 17.4 |
| Apollo Career Center | 7-12 | 763 | 11.9 |
| Shawnee Middle School | 5-8 | 714 | 17.9 |
| Shawnee High School | 9-12 | 691 | 18.7 |
| Elmwood Elementary School | K-2 | 512 | 19.7 |
| Bath High School | 9-12 | 433 | 14.9 |
| Heritage Elementary School | PK-4 | 432 | 17.3 |
| Bath Middle School | 6-8 | 410 | 19.5 |
| Perry Elementary School | K-6 | 404 | 15.5 |
| Liberty Arts Magnet K-8 | K-8 | 375 | 15.6 |
| Maplewood Elementary School | 3-4 | 358 | 19.9 |
Towns near Lima
- Fort Shawnee, OH4.6 mi · 6,263 people · home $208,700
- Wapakoneta, OH12.8 mi · 9,957 people · home $158,400
- Delphos, OH13.8 mi · 7,117 people · home $129,600
- Ada, OH15.1 mi · 5,334 people · home $160,500
- Bluffton, OH15.7 mi · 3,967 people · home $212,400
- Ottawa, OH19.7 mi · 4,456 people · home $190,700
- St. Marys, OH19.8 mi · 8,397 people · home $148,500
- New Bremen, OH25.3 mi · 3,034 people · home $234,600
Lima questions
Is Lima, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lima scores better for retirees than 1% of Ohio towns and quieter than 3%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Lima?
The median owner-occupied home in Lima is valued at $107,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,240, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Lima?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Lima get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima 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)