Rents are 9% below what Lorain's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,104 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Lorain is 1.3% below its high of $1,118 in April 2026, at $1,104 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lorain changed +2.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($48,685) is $1,217 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,067); a 3-bedroom is $1,370.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Lorain, 44055 ($1,194/mo), costs 19% more than the cheapest, 44053 ($1,004/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lorain. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Lorain, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 14.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lorain, OH has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Lorain, OH paid around $791 a month. That figure now sits near $1,104, up 39.6% from the 2022 baseline. Median household income climbed from $42,201 to $48,685 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.4% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 45.4% to 42.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 12.8% to 14.8% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Lorain, OH reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Lorain on your salary?
At $1,104/mo, how Lorain rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lorain rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lorain. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lorain
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lorain is $1,104/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $777/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,067/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,370/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($48,685/yr), Lorain ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lorain?
Is rent going up or down in Lorain?
Which Lorain neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Lorain rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
At $1,104/mo, rent takes ~27% of Lorain's median household income ($48,685/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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