Health · Lorain

Lorain, OH health

Lorain differs from Ohio on 21 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (7.7% vs 8.7%). Where it trails the state: more uninsured adults (15.4% vs 8%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Lorain
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Lorain’s Health Grade: D−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Lorain is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressDObesityD-DiabetesDSmokingD-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 4%
Less healthyHealthier
Ohio towns we grade (1,692)Healthier than 3%
Towns with similar incomes, $37K–$61K (4,927)Healthier than 9%

About what its income would suggest. Lorain does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Lorain could be anywhere from D− to C−.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Ohio ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Lorain with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Lorain uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Lorain compares with Ohio

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Lorain adults…

42 of every 100 Lorain adults have high blood pressure
Ohio: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 38.6–45.8%

Bars show Lorain; the black tick is Ohio. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Lorain, betterLorain, worseToo close to callOhio
Get no exerciseshare of adults 38.9% Lorain
OH 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 42.7% Lorain
OH 37.9%
Binge drinkshare of adults 14.1% Lorain
OH 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 20% Lorain
OH 15.4%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Lorain adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.

79%
Yearly checkup
OH 80%
54%
Dentist visit
OH 63%
84%
Cholesterol check
OH 86%
62%
Colon screening
OH 65%
73%
Mammogram
OH 76%
80%
Taking BP meds
OH 79%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Lorain 15.4% · Ohio 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Lorain adults are doing

1 in 3Lorain adults feel lonely
35% · Ohio 35% · too close to call
1 in 4Lorain adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.9% · Ohio 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Lorain adults lack social or emotional support
23.8% · Ohio 21.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Lorain adults are in frequent mental distress
20.1% · Ohio 17.5% · worse
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Lorain adults worry about having enough food
26.6% · OH 14.1% · worse
1 in 5
Lorain adults worry about keeping their housing
19.8% · OH 11.3% · worse
1 in 7
Lorain adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
14.8% · OH 8.3% · worse
1 in 8
Lorain adults lack reliable transportation
13.2% · OH 7.7% · worse

24.2% of Lorain adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.

Disability

Living with a disability

37.8%

of Lorain adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20%
Thinking or memory18.1%
Hearing7.9%
Errands alone11.7%
Vision8.5%
Dressing or bathing6.3%

Black tick: Ohio. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Lorain

Lorain and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Lorain.

Sheffield: 45.2% Sheffield: 33.2% Amherst: 33.7% Elyria: 39.2% Amherst: 36.4% Brownhelm: 35.5% Sheffield Lake: 36.9% Vermilion: 36.2% Elyria: 39.5% Avon: 31.6% Avon Lake: 31.9% New Russia: 33.7% South Amherst: 35.6% Henrietta: 34.1% Vermilion: 36.3% Lorain: 42.9% Lorain Sheffield Sheffield Amherst Elyria Amherst Brownhelm Sheffield Lake Vermilion Mercy Regional Medical Center · Lorain · 2.9 mi · 2★ MedicareH University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center · Elyria · 6.5 mi · 4★ MedicareH Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital · Avon · 9.1 mi · 5★ MedicareH Mercy Allen Hospital · Oberlin · 10.1 mi · 5★ MedicareH Lorain County Health & Dentistry · Lorain · 1.6 mi+
31.6%45.2%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#15 of 16towns on this map, healthiest first
Sheffield33.2%
Amherst33.7%
Brownhelm35.5%
Vermilion36.2%
Amherst36.4%
Sheffield Lake36.9%
Elyria39.2%
Lorain42.9%
Sheffield45.2%
6 places to get careNearest ER 2.9 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Lorain

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lorain, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMercy Regional Medical CenterLorain · 2.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCleveland Clinic Avon Hospital★★★★★ · 9.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLorain County Health & DentistryLorain · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.6 mi
Lorain County Health & Dentistry
6 sites · nearest in Lorain
Sliding-scale feesIn Lorain
Directions to nearest
2.9 mi
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Lorain · ★★★★★
ERIn Lorain
6.5 mi
University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center
Elyria · ★★★★★
9.1 mi
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
Avon · ★★★★★
ER
10.1 mi
Mercy Allen Hospital
Oberlin · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
18.8 mi
Health and Wellness West
Cleveland · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
! Primary carePart of Lorain is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Lorain · need score 19 of 25
! Dental carePart of Lorain is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Lorain · need score 11 of 25
✓ Mental healthLorain is not a shortage area

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lorain. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Lorain
MeasureLorainMarginOhio
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure42.1%38.6–45.8%37.2%worse
High cholesterol38.9%35.2–42.7%36.7%about the same
Obesity42.9%37.2–48.8%37.1%worse
Arthritis32.8%29.9–35.9%29.8%worse
Depression25.9%22.8–29.4%25.4%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)22.4%18.9–25.8%15.3%worse
Asthma11.9%10.6–13.3%11.1%about the same
Cancer (not skin)7.7%7.1–8.5%8.7%better
Diabetes18.5%16.6–20.7%13.2%worse
COPD10.5%9.6–11.5%8%worse
Heart disease8.7%8–9.6%7.1%worse
Stroke4.8%4.4–5.1%3.7%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes20%17.8–22.3%15.4%worse
Binge drink14.1%11.8–16.7%16.6%about the same
Get no exercise38.9%34.7–43.3%26.9%worse
Sleep under 7 hours42.7%37.2–48%37.9%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.4%76.3–82.4%79.9%about the same
Dentist visit53.5%50.1–56.7%62.9%worse
Cholesterol check83.6%81.7–85.3%86.1%worse
Colon screening61.6%56.7–66.1%65.2%about the same
Mammogram73.3%66.1–79.6%76%about the same
Taking BP meds80.1%77.7–82.4%79.2%about the same
No health insurance15.4%13.7–17.3%8%worse
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35%30–39.6%35%about the same
Lack emotional support23.8%20.3–27.3%21.3%about the same
Frequent mental distress20.1%18.1–22.2%17.5%worse
Fair or poor health28.4%25.7–31.3%19.4%worse
Frequent physical distress18.2%16.4–20.1%13.9%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity26.6%23.7–29.5%14.1%worse
Housing insecurity19.8%17.4–22.2%11.3%worse
Utility shut-off threat14.8%13–16.6%8.3%worse
No reliable transportation13.2%11.7–14.6%7.7%worse
Receive SNAP24.2%21.5–26.7%11.7%
Disability
Any disability37.8%34.1–41.8%29.5%
Walking or climbing stairs20%18–22.1%13.9%
Thinking or memory18.1%16.4–19.9%13.9%
Hearing7.9%7.1–8.8%6.8%
Vision8.5%7.9–9.2%4.8%
Dressing or bathing6.3%5.9–6.8%3.8%
Errands alone11.7%10.7–12.9%8.1%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Lorain door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Ohio figure falls inside it, we don't call Lorain better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Lorain directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01