Dayton, OH vs Lorain, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Dayton, OH and Lorain, OH spend within 2.0% of each other per resident — $16,978 versus $16,642 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lorain, OH edges Dayton, OH on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 60/100 (grade C) to 57/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Lorain, OH reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Dayton, OH carries $16 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Dayton, OH at $855 per resident and in Lorain, OH at $405.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 52% of total revenue in Dayton, OH and 73% in Lorain, OH.
Summary
Dayton spends 2.0% more per capita than Lorain ($336/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 | $30 | $241 |
| Sales Tax | $210 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,236 | $622 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,744 | $0 |
| Other | $5,977 | $6,102 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4 |
| Fire Protection | $855 | $405 |
| Public Welfare | $2,147 | $2,099 |
| Hospitals | $677 | $931 |
| Parks & Recreation | $232 | $0 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $619 |
| Utilities | $2,873 | $1,639 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $301 |
| Other | $6,059 | $10,644 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.