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Town Hall · Lorain

Lorain spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar towns

Lorain’s town government spent $277,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,011 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Wisconsin.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$277,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,011
In 2022: $1,011, more than 87% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
$360,000
end of 2022, reported
Typical tax bill
$1,983
0.95% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Lorain is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,011 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them

Lorain’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,011 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $509, and the middle half spent $371–$727. Lorain spent more than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $371–$727Median $509Lorain

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
1113

Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lorain itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,011 per resident a year, or $2.77 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 71%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 61%From the state 13%Property taxes 12%From other local governments 10%Interest, fines & other 4%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $771,000; interest on debt $4,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Lorain reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,983 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.95% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
La Follette$3,486
Clam Falls$2,191
McKinley$2,135
Dewey$2,103
Lorain$1,983
Roosevelt$1,854
$1,983
typical bill a year
0.95%
effective rate
$208,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Lorain’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Lorain’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Lorain →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lorain

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Lorain’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lorain yet.
The school district

Frederic School District

Lorain’s K–12 school district, shared with Clam Falls, Frederic, West Sweden, Trade Lake, Luck and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Lorain →
$17,506
per pupil · WI $16,459
415
students
$4.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,506 per pupil, $9,243 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 40%State 47%Federal 13%

Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Lorain voted in 2024

Official results for Lorain’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President201 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.6%142 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.9%54 votes

Others: 2.5% (5 votes).

Most votes in Lorain: Donald J Trump

Polk County: Trump 64.8%, Harris 33.9% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
86%

of Lorain’s 233 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate197 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican65.5%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat29.4%
Others5.1%

Most votes in Lorain: Eric Hovde

Polk County: Hovde 62.5%, Baldwin 34.8% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 7th District430,384 votes
Tom TiffanyRepublican63.6%
Kyle KilbournDemocrat36.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Tom Tiffany

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Lorain, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Lorain70.6%26.9%2.5%201
Polk County64.8%33.9%1.3%28,222
Wisconsin49.6%48.7%1.7%3,422,918
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Lorain

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lorain.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Lorain compares with the towns next door

Lorain spent $1,011 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $441 to $1,185. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Clam Falls$441$2,191
Dewey$546$2,103
La Follette$651$3,486
McKinley$711$2,135
Roosevelt$1,185$1,854
Lorain$1,011$1,983

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Lorain’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Lorain’s government

How much does Lorain spend per resident?

About $1,011 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,011 was more than 87% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lorain?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,983 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.95% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Lorain’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lorain yet.

How did Lorain vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 70.6%, Kamala D Harris 26.9% (201 votes, official results). Polk County: Trump 64.8%, Harris 33.9%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

Who represents Lorain in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Romaine Quinn) and Assembly District 75 (Duke Tucker). The Assembly district also covers 56 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lorain’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →