1st Advantage MortgageLorain County households have a median income of $73,347 and median rent of $966 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Ohio license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Lorain County
- What Lorain County households earn
- Renting and owning in Lorain County
- Jobs and commutes in Lorain County
- The counties around Lorain County
- The communities that make up Lorain County
- What a median Lorain County budget can carry
- Lorain County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Lorain County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Lorain County residents
- A Lorain County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Lorain County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lorain County
With an estimated 317,129 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lorain County ranks 9th of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 491 square miles, that is close to 646 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Cleveland, OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Lorain is the biggest of its 18 Census places, at roughly 65,395 people (21% of the county total).
What Lorain County households earn
The median household income in Lorain County is $73,347; statewide it is $71,389, so Lorain County runs 3% above Ohio as a whole. That places it 29th among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Household income | Lorain County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | +1.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Lorain County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). None of these numbers decides a Lorain County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Lorain County
Renters in Lorain County pay a median of $966 a month, 7% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $223,200, or 3.0 years of median income. 74% of Lorain County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1973.
| Home costs | Lorain County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $966/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $223,200 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Lorain County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Jobs and commutes in Lorain County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Lorain County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Lorain County. About 78% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lorain County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lorain County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Lorain County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 41 miles). Medina County leads the group on income ($94,968), Cuyahoga County trails ($64,468), and Lorain County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain County | - | $73,347 | $966/mo | 74% |
| Erie County, OH | 21 mi | $71,993 | $933/mo | 72% |
| Medina County, OH | 27 mi | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
| Huron County, OH | 30 mi | $67,878 | $848/mo | 74% |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 31 mi | $64,468 | $1,060/mo | 59% |
| Summit County, OH | 40 mi | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Ashland County, OH | 41 mi | $69,860 | $888/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Lorain County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Lorain County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 268,893 residents, leaving about 15% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,685 in Lorain to $135,915 in Avon. Live in one of these Lorain County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain | city | 65,395 | $48,685 | $887 | 0 mi |
| Elyria | city | 53,035 | $54,945 | $906 | 6 mi |
| North Ridgeville | city | 36,627 | $96,698 | $1,116 | 9 mi |
| Avon Lake | city | 25,752 | $115,567 | $1,537 | 9 mi |
| Avon | city | 25,317 | $135,915 | $1,796 | 9 mi |
| Amherst | city | 12,906 | $90,725 | $906 | 4 mi |
| Vermilion | city | 10,343 | $69,701 | $1,099 | 7 mi |
| Sheffield Lake | city | 8,966 | $69,632 | $1,054 | 5 mi |
| Oberlin | city | 8,329 | $81,308 | $995 | 11 mi |
| Grafton | village | 5,657 | $90,724 | $1,089 | 13 mi |
| Wellington | village | 4,593 | $61,578 | $820 | 20 mi |
| Sheffield | village | 4,380 | $107,837 | $1,806 | 5 mi |
| LaGrange | village | 2,800 | $94,922 | $951 | 14 mi |
| South Amherst | village | 1,912 | $86,194 | $1,294 | 7 mi |
What a median Lorain County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lorain County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lorain County: $6,112
- Housing at the median rent of $966 uses 16%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,234 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,662 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Lorain County residents: age, schooling, coverage
29% of Lorain County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Lorain County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.5% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lorain County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
What the numbers mean for Lorain County borrowers
What the Lorain County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Consolidating cards in Lorain County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who licenses lenders for Lorain County residents
Lorain County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Lorain County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Lorain County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Ask a Lorain County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Lorain County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lorain County?
$73,347 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 29th of 88 in the state.
How does Lorain County rent compare with Ohio?
$966 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 7% below.
Does this page cover Lorain?
Yes, along with the other 17 Census places in Lorain County, such as Elyria, North Ridgeville, Avon Lake.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lorain County or elsewhere in Ohio, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lorain County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.