Columbus, OH vs Lorain, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and Lorain, OH spend within 13.3% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $16,642 — 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 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Lorain, OH reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, OH carries $1,145 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168 per resident, while Lorain, OH leads with fire protection at $405.
Summary
Columbus spends 13.3% more per capita than Lorain ($2,216/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 | $10 | $241 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $622 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $0 |
| Other | $5,248 | $6,102 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4 |
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $405 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $2,099 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $931 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $0 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $619 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $1,639 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $301 |
| Other | $7,595 | $10,644 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.