The Town FilesLorain, Ohio
City in Lorain County · population 65,211 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,200
- Household income
- $48,685
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.8
Lorain is a city of 65,211 people in Lorain County, Ohio. The median home is worth $139,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 83% of Ohio towns, more of a college town than 77% of Ohio towns.
How Lorain 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 Lorain is worth $139,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $48,685, which is more affordable than 35% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $887 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lorain | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $887 | $914 |
| Median household income | $48,685 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Lorain
| People | Lorain | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 90.9% |
Weather in Lorain
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorain since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 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 Lorain itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Lorain
25 public schools with 9,287 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain High School | 9-12 | 1,784 | 17.3 |
| Horizon Science Academy Lorain (charter) | K-12 | 815 | 16.0 |
| Vincent Elementary School | K-4 | 479 | 16.0 |
| Lorain Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-8 | 457 | 45.7 |
| Larkmoor Elementary School | PK-5 | 450 | 17.3 |
| Durling Middle School | 5-8 | 447 | 17.2 |
| General Johnnie Wilson Middle School | 6-8 | 446 | 14.9 |
| Southview Middle School | 6-8 | 418 | 13.9 |
| Longfellow Middle School | 6-8 | 349 | 11.6 |
| Clearview High School | 9-12 | 340 | 13.6 |
| Frank Jacinto Elementary | PK-5 | 307 | 14.6 |
| Toni Wofford Morrison ES | PK-5 | 300 | 20.0 |
Towns near Lorain
- Amherst, OH3.6 mi · 12,681 people · home $239,200
- Sheffield, OH4.6 mi · 4,135 people · home $292,700
- Sheffield Lake, OH5.4 mi · 8,957 people · home $167,000
- Elyria, OH5.7 mi · 52,656 people · home $156,100
- Vermilion, OH7.4 mi · 10,659 people · home $183,600
- North Ridgeville, OH8.9 mi · 35,280 people · home $270,100
- Avon, OH9.1 mi · 24,847 people · home $395,900
- Avon Lake, OH9.3 mi · 25,206 people · home $368,300
Lorain questions
Is Lorain, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lorain scores better for retirees than 7% of Ohio towns and quieter than 4%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Lorain?
The median owner-occupied home in Lorain is valued at $139,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,685, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $887 a month.
What is the weather like in Lorain?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 43.6 inches of snow.
Does Lorain get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. 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)