Canton, OH vs Lorain, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lorain, OH and Canton, OH spend within 2.6% of each other per resident — $16,642 versus $16,223 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lorain, OH holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 60/100 (grade C) against 38/100 (grade D) for Canton, OH — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lorain, OH reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Canton, OH carries $701 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Canton, OH at $698 per resident and in Lorain, OH at $405.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 117% of total revenue in Canton, OH and 73% in Lorain, OH.
Summary
Lorain spends 2.5% more per capita than Canton ($419/person difference). Lorain, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $241 |
| Sales Tax | $87 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,203 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,768 | $622 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,063 | $0 |
| Other | $4,716 | $6,102 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4 |
| Fire Protection | $698 | $405 |
| Education | $106 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $433 | $2,099 |
| Hospitals | $485 | $931 |
| Parks & Recreation | $471 | $0 |
| Housing | $3,093 | $619 |
| Sewerage | $425 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,516 | $1,639 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $301 |
| Other | $7,997 | $10,644 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.