Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Lorain is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Lorain differs from Ohio on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lorain. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lorain
Making ends meet is harder in Lorain
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.6%), about twice the Ohio rate. Utility shut-off threats (14.8% vs 8.3%) and housing insecurity (19.8% vs 11.3%) are higher too. 24.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Lorain is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lorain is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More Lorain adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.9%), vs 26.9% across Ohio. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Lorain
Grades next door run from Sheffield (B+) to Sheffield Township (D−). Lorain is a D−. Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Ohio figure falls outside Lorain’s likely range.
What’s behind Lorain’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lorain is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #966 of 993 in Ohio. All seven of Lorain’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 38.9% of adults, against 26.9% across Ohio and 24.7% nationally.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Lorain’s median household income is $48,685; among the 5,264 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.2% of Lorain adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
6.2 miles of trails across 29 parks and preserves
Lorain and the towns around it
Lorain’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 9 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain | D− | 42.9% | 18.5% | 20% | CDC place |
| Sheffield | B+ | 33.2% | 13.1% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Sheffield Township | D− | 45.2% | 19.9% | 22% | ZIP codes |
| Amherst | B+ | 33.7% | 12.6% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Elyria Township | D | 39.2% | 15.7% | 18.5% | ZIP codes |
| Brownhelm Township | B | 35.5% | 13.3% | 13.4% | ZIP codes |
| Amherst Township | C+ | 36.4% | 14.2% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Vermilion | B− | 36.2% | 13.5% | 14% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Lorain adults…
Lorain runs below OH on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lorain
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Lorain, plus the nearest just outside it.
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; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Lorain adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Lorain adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lorain runs above Ohio.
1 in 3 Lorain adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lorain adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lorain
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lorain is better than Ohio on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Lorain’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lorain | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.4%25.7–31.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.4–20.1 | 13.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%18.1–22.2 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.9%37.2–48.8 | 37.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.6–20.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.1%38.6–45.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35.2–42.7 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.8%29.9–35.9 | 29.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7.1–8.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%8–9.6 | 7.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9.6–11.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.4%18.9–25.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20%17.8–22.3 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.9%34.7–43.3 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.8–16.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.7%37.2–48 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.3–82.4 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.5%50.1–56.7 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.7–85.3 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.7–82.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.6%56.7–66.1 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%66.1–79.6 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22.8–29.4 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35%30–39.6 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.3–27.3 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.6%23.7–29.5 | 14.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.8%17.4–22.2 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.8%13–16.6 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%11.7–14.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.2%21.5–26.7 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%34.1–41.8 | 29.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%18–22.1 | 13.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16.4–19.9 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.5%7.9–9.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.7–12.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.9–6.8 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Lorain
Is Lorain a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lorain is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #966 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lorain?
CDC estimates 42.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 48.8%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lorain?
Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Lorain’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lorain have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.7–17.3%), against 8% across Ohio.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Lorain more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lorain.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.