Lorain, OH vs Dayton, 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 Lorain, OH at $405 per resident and in Dayton, OH at $855.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 73% of total revenue in Lorain, OH and 52% in Dayton, 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 | $241 | $30 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $210 |
| Intergovernmental | $622 | $2,236 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,744 |
| Other | $6,102 | $5,977 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $405 | $855 |
| Public Welfare | $2,099 | $2,147 |
| Hospitals | $931 | $677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $232 |
| Housing | $619 | $4,133 |
| Utilities | $1,639 | $2,873 |
| Interest on Debt | $301 | $0 |
| Other | $10,644 | $6,059 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.