In Lorain, a typical home is worth $139,200 and typical rent is $887 a month. Compared with all of Lorain County, the typical home value is 38% lower, typical household income is 34% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $114,498 to $154,510.
Typical rent
$1,104a month
▲ 2.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2022 to September 2026: from $788 to $1,104.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lorain is in Lorain County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lorain County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Lorain is worth $139,200,38% less than in Lorain County as a whole ($223,200).
2
57% of households in Lorain own their home, against 74% in Lorain County.
3
The typical household income in Lorain is $48,685,34% less than in Lorain County as a whole ($73,347).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lorain
What homes there are in Lorain, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Kind of home: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Detached house
69%
76%
69%
61%
Attached house
7%
6%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
5%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
11%
15%
19%
Mobile home
1%
2%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Lorain, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lorain County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Year built: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Before 1960
49%
33%
38%
26%
1960–1979
31%
27%
26%
24%
1980–1999
9%
18%
20%
25%
2000–2009
7%
13%
10%
14%
2010 or later
5%
9%
7%
11%
In Lorain, half of the homes were built before 1961; in Lorain County, before 1973.
Homes in Lorain are smaller: 64% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Lorain County, 71%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K30%
$100K–$200K43%
$200K–$300K15%
$300K–$500K10%
$500K–$750K2%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Under $100K
30%
$100K–$200K
43%
$200K–$300K
15%
$300K–$500K
10%
$500K–$750K
2%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
By price, most homes in Lorain sit under the FHA limit for Lorain County ($541,287): about 98%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50017%
$500–$99947%
$1,000–$1,49932%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,274
$1,500–$1,9994%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Under $500
17%
$500–$999
47%
$1,000–$1,499
32%
$1,500–$1,999
4%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Lorain County is $1,274; about 81% of rents in Lorain are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,218 a month
Lorain County: $1,525 a month
Without a mortgage
$492 a month
Lorain County: $629 a month
Owners with a mortgage
57%
Lorain County: 62%
Owning costs less in Lorain: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,218 a month; in Lorain County, $1,525. Without one, $492.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lorain+60%
Lorain County+48%
Ohio+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lorain+27%
Lorain County+25%
Ohio+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lorain+27%
Lorain County+26%
Ohio+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Typical home value
+60%
+48%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+27%
+25%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
+27%
+26%
+26%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Lorain gained value faster than in Lorain County: 60% against 48%.
Much as in Lorain County, the typical rent in Lorain rose 27% since 2015–2019.
While home values in Lorain changed +60% and rent +27%, the typical household income rose 27%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lorain and its comparisons
Measure
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Rental vacancy
7.5%
7.5%
4.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
2.3%
1.3%
1.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.36
2.42
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
80%
78%
75%
69%
Carpool
11%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
7%
12%
13%
15%
Other means
2%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Lorain County, the rental vacancy rate in Lorain is 7.5%.
More households are short on space in Lorain: 2.3% have more than one person per room; in Lorain County, 1.3%.
A household in Lorain has 2.36 people on average, about the same as in Lorain County (2.42).
Carpooling is common in Lorain: 11% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Lorain County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lorain?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Lorain, worth $139,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Lorain, which is $48,685 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $50,921 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lorain County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Lorain. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,872 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,188
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$136,679
Total interest
$196,649
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,351 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,136 a month
Tight
$1,136 to $1,461 a month
Your payment · 29%
Hard
more than $1,461 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Lorain ($48,685 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$926
Property tax
$143
Home insurance
$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$62
You need at least $4,872 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,188; principal and interest $926.
The city and its county
Lorain and Lorain County
Lorain is in Lorain County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Lorain
Map of Lorain County, Ohio, with Lorain marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lorain
Lorain County
Other cities with a page
Lorain's own numbers
Typical home value
$139,200
Typical monthly rent
$887
Typical yearly household income
$48,685
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
1.23%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lorain County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,274
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lorain County.
A typical home in Lorain is worth $139,200: 38% below the county and 35% below Ohio. With the typical household income in Lorain ($48,685 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Lorain2.9 years
County3.0 years
Ohio3.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lorain County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lorain County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lorain County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lorain County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.2% +2.2% 2016
2017: +5.3% +5.3% 2017
2018: +4.9% +4.9% 2018
2019: +4.4% +4.4% 2019
2020: +4.6% +4.6% 2020
2021: +11.2% +11.2% 2021
2022: +13.0% +13.0% 2022
2023: +9.3% +9.3% 2023
2024: +7.4% +7.4% 2024
2025: +5.6% +5.6% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lorain County, Ohio and the United States
Period
County
Ohio
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.6%
+4.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+56%
+53%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+92%
+93%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Lorain next to Lorain County, Ohio and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Lorain$139,200
County$223,200
Ohio$214,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lorain$887
County$966
Ohio$1,034
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lorain$48,685
County$73,347
Ohio$71,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lorain next to Lorain County and Ohio
Measure
Lorain
Lorain County
Ohio
U.S.
Typical home value
$139,200 ▼38% below the county
$223,200
$214,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$887 ▼8% below the county
$966
$1,034
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$48,685 ▼34% below the county
$73,347
$71,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
57% ▼17 points below the county
74%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,708 ▼44% below the county
$3,055
$2,822
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.23% ▼0.14 points below the county
1.37%
1.31%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
55% ▲8 points above the county
47%
46%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lorain County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lorain
For a typical $139,200 home in Lorain, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lorain's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,188a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,872
Cash to close
$9,048
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $62
Conventional, 5% down$1,163a month
Down payment
$6,960
Cash to close
$11,136
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $66
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$955a month
Down payment
$27,840
Cash to close
$32,016
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,084a month
Down payment
$20,880
Cash to close
$25,056
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lorain
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,188
$4,872
$136,679
7.18%
FHA MIP · $62
$9,048
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,163
$6,960
$132,240
7.18%
PMI · $66
$11,136
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$955
$27,840
$111,360
7.18%
None
$32,016
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,084
$20,880
$118,320
8.18%
None
$25,056
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Lorain is $887 a month: 8% below the county. In Lorain, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lorain County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,274 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.50 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lorain County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$924
$17.77
$36,960
1 bedroom
$1,050
$20.19
$42,000
2 bedrooms
$1,274
$24.50
$50,960
3 bedrooms
$1,628
$31.31
$65,120
4 bedrooms
$1,756
$33.77
$70,240
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lorain
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lorain has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 44053 to $1,130 in 44052.
None is above the fair market rent for Lorain County ($1,274).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Lorain, beside the one for Lorain County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 44053 to $1,130 in 44052. None is above the fair market rent for Lorain County ($1,274).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,274
Lowest: $1,060 (44053)Highest: $1,130 (44052)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lorain, fiscal year 2027.
44052
$820
$930
$1,130
$1,440
$1,560
44053
$770
$870
$1,060
$1,350
$1,460
44055
$810
$920
$1,110
$1,420
$1,530
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
44052 $1,130$1,440
44053 $1,060$1,350
44055 $1,110$1,420
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lorain when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 23 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lorain. These are the largest.
Lakeview Plaza310 W 7th St, Lorain 44052397 homes, 394 low-income · Run by Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $262 a month · Average wait: 12 months(440) 288-1600
Western Horizon2153 Lorain Dr, Lorain 44052353 low-income homes · For families(440) 288-7490
Oberlin Manor1220 W 37th St, Lorain 44053150 low-income homes · For older adults(440) 282-5343
International Plaza1825 Homewood Dr, Lorain 44055100 low-income homes · For older adults(440) 277-0290
Marshall Plaza Apts2539 Marshall Ave, Lorain 4405289 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 17 · In service since 2012
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lorain County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lorain or Lorain County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Lorain the same as in the rest of the state.
Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it.Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic).Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Lorain or Lorain County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Lorain and all of Lorain County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Lorain?
The typical home value in Lorain is $139,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lorain County it is $223,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Lorain?
Typical rent in Lorain is $887 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lorain County is $1,274.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lorain?
Lorain uses the FHA limit for all of Lorain County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lorain?
The typical homeowner in Lorain pays $1,708 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.23% of the home’s value; in Lorain County, the rate is 1.37%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lorain?
There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lorain County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
