Lima ( LY-mə) is a city in Allen County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 35,579 at the 2020 census. The city is located in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75, approximately 72 miles (116 km) north of Dayton, 78 miles (126 km) southwest of Toledo, and 63 mi (101 km) southeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lima was founded in 1831. It is the principal city of the Lima metropolitan area, which had 102,000 residents in 2020 and is included in the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta combined statistical area. The Lima Army Tank Plant, officially called the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, was built in 1941 and is the sole producer of the M1 Abrams tank.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Lima ranks

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#9Closest to a top hospital in OH #32Lowest property tax in OH #40Shortest commute in OH All OH rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code45801, 45802, 45804

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Lima

Housing in Lima

$152K▲ 4.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Lima home is worth about $152,000, up 4.3% in a year, 39% below the Ohio typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market59

Sale-to-list97.3%

Sold in May30

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Lima

Safety Grade D

Lima reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 95% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lima 8.5

Ohio 2.9

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lima 30.9

Ohio 14.7

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Lima

Full picture →

About one in 4 of Lima’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are American (9%), Bath (8%) and Shawnee (4%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

American

Bath

Shawnee

Perry

27%Work in townlive and work in Lima 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 18,508Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lima →

Health in Lima

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 3% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Ohio

1better than OH·21worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 7▼ 4 close Habits 3▼ 1 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 4▼ 1 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.1%Fewer adults who have had cancerOH 8.7% · better 15.6%More adults facing a utility shut-offOH 8.3% · worse

Care nearby

Mercy Health St. Ritas Medical CenterLima · 0.4 mi · ER

Dr. Wilfred Ellis BuildingLima · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

2 hospitals · 1 health center in Lima →

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Lima · CMS · HRSAHealth in Lima →

Natural hazards in Lima

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🏚️ Earthquakes

14Does Lima flood?paid flood claims since 1979 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lima MapLima vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Lima →

Climate in Lima

Full climate →

Lima has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

36° / 22°Winter

60° / 40°Spring

82° / 62°Summer

64° / 44°Fall

How much snow does Lima get?About 19 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 24, with the last in spring around Apr 24.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Lima →

Schools in Lima

All Lima schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Lima’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 75% of Ohio’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Lima’s schools compare in OH →

DistrictLima CitySchools19

Heritage Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 448 students Liberty Arts Magnet K-8 C+Elementary · Grades K–8 · 343 students Independence Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 272 students Unity Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 241 students Freedom Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 235 students Heir Force Community School CElementary · Grades K–8 · 204 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within OH. Ratings are from neighbors.