The Lorain Palace Theater is a theater located in Lorain, Ohio. Built in 1928, the opening night film was a pre-release of Paramount's "Something Always Happens" which was the first talky ever played in the State of Ohio.

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18 on the National Register · #32 in OHHistoric places →

Know Lorain

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Lorain

City in Ohio, United States

1807Established

65,211Population

24.1 sq miArea

610 ftElevation

Lorain () is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located in Northeast Ohio on Lake Erie at the mouth of the Black River, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Cleveland. With a population of 65,211 at the 2020 census, Lorain is the ninth-most populous city in Ohio, the most populous in Lorain County and the third-most populous in Greater Cleveland.

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

How Lorain ranks

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#128Most walkable in OH #138Most affordable in OH #229Lowest property tax in OH All OH rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code44052, 44053, 44055

Area code440

Living in Lorain

Housing in Lorain

$157K▲ 3.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Lorain home is worth about $157,000, up 3.9% in a year, 37% below the Ohio typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market31

Sale-to-list97.4%

Sold in May49

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Lorain

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Lorain reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 81% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lorain 5.6

Ohio 2.9

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lorain 13.3

Ohio 14.7

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Lorain

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Most working residents leave Lorain for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Elyria (10%), Cleveland (8%) and Avon (5%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

Elyria

10%

Cleveland

Avon

Amherst

15%Work in townlive and work in Lorain 12 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 13,578Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lorain →

Health in Lorain

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 4% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Ohio

1better than OH·20worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 8▼ 3 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.7%Fewer adults who have had cancerOH 8.7% · better 15.4%More uninsured adultsOH 8% · worse

Care nearby

Mercy Regional Medical CenterLorain · 2.9 mi · ER

Lorain County Health & DentistryLorain · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · part of Lorain

DentalShortage · part of Lorain

Mental healthNo shortage

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

Natural hazards in Lorain

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 16% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

62Does Lorain flood?paid flood claims since 1978 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lorain MapLorain vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Lorain

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Lorain has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

36° / 25°Winter

57° / 41°Spring

80° / 64°Summer

62° / 47°Fall

How much snow does Lorain get?About 44 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 Lorain →

Schools in Lorain

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C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Lorain’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 77% of Ohio’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Lorain’s schools compare in OH →

DistrictLorain CitySchools27

Larkmoor Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 432 students Lorain Preparatory Academy C-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 416 students Toni Wofford Morrison ES C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 324 students Frank Jacinto Elementary D-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 307 students Stevan Dohanos Elementary School D-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 301 students Palm Elementary School DElementary · Grades PK–5 · 295 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.