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Lorain, OH

Photo: Wikipedia

Lorain, OH

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 65
Population65,207
Foreign Born1.1%
Population Density2,762people per mi²
Median Age39.3 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

61/100

39% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Lorain, Ohio

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $13k$25k
Comfortable $24k$35k
Luxury $83k+$128k+
Elite (Top 5%) $101k+$156k+
Affordability Ratio

130%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean79%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
29
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
5

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

1.4mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

1.9mi

Airport

DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

80.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Lorain, OH

1.8mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf3Nearest 5.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 21.5 mi
Marina7Nearest 2.1 mi
Winery2Nearest 8.5 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 13 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
F
Distressed

A low-income area with significant economic hardship. Household wealth and educational attainment are well below national averages.

Median HHI
$46k-1.6%
39% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$321k
51% below US avg
College Educated
14.3%
59% below US avg
WFH
5.0%
65% below US avg
Homeownership
55.8%
15% below US avg
Median Home
$124k
56% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
19.1
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−12.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+4.8%
Homicide
0.05 / 1k Residents7% above state avg
Robbery
0.49 / 1k Residents29% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.78 / 1k Residents174% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−30.5%
Burglary
2.55 / 1k Residents46% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
8.58 / 1k Residents12% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.19 / 1k Residents25% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+14Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Lorain, Ohio
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak10.0% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (40% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season214 days270 frost-free
Annual Rainfall44.8"
Elevation617 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D+
Weak429 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,762/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Tornado, Cold Wave, Strong Wind, Hail
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 105 mi · coast 411 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$65.9M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityCleveland373k people are 26 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital111 miColumbus, OH
Nearest Prison14 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T19:05:19.000Z

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