Lorain, OH Local Data & Statistics

State: OH

Total population: 65,395 Household income: $48,685 Rent: $887

Overview

Total population

65,395

Rent

$887

Year built

1961

Household income

$48,685

Per capita income

$27,589

Poverty rate

25.2%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Ohio

Total population

65,395

Adults over 25

44,232

Total households

27,460

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$48,685

Per capita income

$27,589

Poverty rate

25.2%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Rent over 30% of income

50.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$887

Year built

1961

Households that rent

42.9%

Households that own

57.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

53.6%

Black

18.3%

Asian

0.5%

Two or more races

19.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

28.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

71.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

93.3%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

6.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

36.4%

High school graduate or GED

36.6%

Some college or associate degree

12.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

14.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lorain, OH with: Ohio United States

Lorain, OH

Total population65,395

Rent$887

Year built1961

Household income$48,685

Per capita income$27,589

Poverty rate25.2%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Ohio State

Total population11,810,293

Rent$1,034

Year built1970

Household income$71,389

Per capita income$40,552

Poverty rate13.3%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLorain, OH	StateOhio	CountryUnited States
Total population	65,395	11,810,293	334,922,499
Rent	$887	$1,034	$1,413
Year built	1961	1970	1980
Household income	$48,685	$71,389	$80,734
Per capita income	$27,589	$40,552	$44,673
Poverty rate	25.2%	13.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lorain, OH, Ohio and United States →

Summary for Lorain, OH

Lorain is located in Ohio.

Rent & Income

In Lorain, the typical monthly rent is $887 and the typical household income is $48,685. Rent here is lower than in both Ohio and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 25.2%, which is higher than in both Ohio and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 42.9% of households. About 50.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 14.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is similar to both Ohio and the national rate.

Lorain, OH — Rent vs Household Income

Lorain, OH — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lorain, OH compares in Ohio (18 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$887	4 / 18	from lower rent	$728 – $1,295
Household income	$48,685	12 / 18	from higher income	$34,408 – $74,681
Poverty rate	25.2%	13 / 18	from lower poverty	8.3% – 37.3%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	8 / 18	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 6.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Ohio with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Lorain, OH

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Lorain places 4th among 18 large places in Ohio. Across the state, rents run from $728 in Youngstown, OH up to $1,295 in Columbus, OH.

Household income

Looking at household income, Lorain places 12th out of 18 significant areas. Incomes across Ohio range between $34,408 in Youngstown, OH and $74,681 in Kettering, OH.

Poverty rate

Lorain places 13th out of 18 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 8.3% in Kettering, OH up to 37.3% in Youngstown, OH.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Lorain is ranked 8th out of 18 major areas. Across Ohio, rates go from 2.5% in Lakewood, OH up to 6.6% in Toledo, OH.

💰 Rent in Lorain, OH (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $887 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lorain, OH

Annual Household Income: $48,685

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lorain, OH

Estimated Rate: 25.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lorain, OH

In Lorain, OH, households that rent: 11,779 (42.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,779	42.9%
Owner-Occupied	15,681	57.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lorain, OH

In Lorain, OH, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,972 (50.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,972	50.7%
Other renter households	5,807	49.3%
Total renter households	11,779	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lorain, OH

Less than High School: 16,114 people (36.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 16,199 people (36.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,366 people (12.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,553 people (14.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 44,232

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lorain, OH

Estimated Rate: 4.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Lynwood, CA65,291 Malden, MA65,509 Victoria, TX65,514 Pflugerville, TX65,162 Kenner, LA65,113 Janesville, WI65,813 Cheyenne, WY64,976 Ocala, FL64,903 Muncie, IN64,739 Waltham, MA64,723

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.