The Town FilesOberlin, Ohio
City in Lorain County · population 8,555 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,600
- Household income
- $81,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 27.3
Oberlin is a city of 8,555 people in Lorain County, Ohio. The median home is worth $225,600, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 99% of Ohio towns, hipper than 98% of Ohio towns.
How Oberlin 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 Oberlin is worth $225,600, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $81,308, which is more affordable than 42% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $995 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oberlin | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,600 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $995 | $914 |
| Median household income | $81,308 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Oberlin
| People | Oberlin | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Oberlin
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin 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 3.1 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 157 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
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 Oberlin itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Oberlin
7 public schools with 3,731 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William R Burton | 8-12 | 1,222 | 13.6 |
| Firelands Elementary School | K-5 | 791 | 18.0 |
| Firelands High School | 9-12 | 519 | 17.9 |
| Firelands Middle School | 6-8 | 417 | 15.4 |
| Oberlin Elementary School | PK-5 | 361 | 12.9 |
| Oberlin High School | 9-12 | 225 | 10.2 |
| Langston Middle School | 6-8 | 196 | 10.9 |
Towns near Oberlin
- LaGrange, OH6.3 mi · 2,595 people · home $264,300
- Amherst, OH8.3 mi · 12,681 people · home $239,200
- Elyria, OH8.7 mi · 52,656 people · home $156,100
- Wellington, OH9.3 mi · 4,799 people · home $197,000
- Vermilion, OH9.8 mi · 10,659 people · home $183,600
- Grafton, OH9.8 mi · 5,895 people · home $216,100
- Lorain, OH10.8 mi · 65,211 people · home $139,200
- North Ridgeville, OH12.3 mi · 35,280 people · home $270,100
Oberlin questions
Is Oberlin, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oberlin scores better for retirees than 83% of Ohio towns and quieter than 13%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.3).
How much does a house cost in Oberlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Oberlin is valued at $225,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,308, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $995 a month.
What is the weather like in Oberlin?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 47.0 inches of snow.
Does Oberlin get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin 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)