Population

Decatur

70,368

Lorain

65,207

Median Income

Decatur

$50,809

Lorain

$45,799

Home Value

Decatur

$97,300

Lorain

$123,500

Rent

Decatur

$796

Lorain

$839

Crime Rate

Decatur

6.04

Lorain

5.81

Cost of Living

Decatur

81.3

Lorain

83.2

Avg Temp

Decatur

N/A

Lorain

N/A

Unemployment

Decatur

8.9%

Lorain

7.0%

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How Similar Are Decatur & Lorain?

Lorain is Decatur's #21 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Decatur

70,368

vs

Lorain

65,207

Match · 7% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Decatur at 70,368 and Lorain at 65,207.

Violent Crime

Decatur

6.04

vs

Lorain

5.81

Match · 4% difference
🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 4% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Decatur

28.67

vs

Lorain

15.51

Different · 46% difference

Decatur has a 46% higher property crime than Lorain.

Political Leaning

Decatur

58.7%

vs

Lorain

52.4%

Different · 11% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Republican, but Decatur has a stronger Republican lean (11% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Decatur

8.9%

vs

Lorain

7.0%

Different · 22% difference

Decatur has a 22% higher unemployment than Lorain.

Median Income

Decatur

$50,809

vs

Lorain

$45,799

Match · 10% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 10% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Decatur

$97,300

vs

Lorain

$123,500

Different · 21% difference

Lorain has a 21% higher home values than Decatur.

Education

Decatur

14.7%

vs

Lorain

9.6%

Different · 35% difference
🎓

Decatur has a 35% higher education than Lorain.

Demographics

🌍

Decatur

67.2%

vs

Lorain

58.3%

Different · 13% difference

Decatur has a 13% higher demographics than Lorain.

Cost of Living

Decatur

81.3

vs

Lorain

83.2

Match · 2% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Decatur and Lorain share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Decatur

vsof 8

0

Lorain

Decatur leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Decatur leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Decatur has a fair market rent (1br) of $845 vs $1,058 in Lorain (20% lower). Decatur scores 74.6 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 91.0 in Lorain. Decatur has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,063 vs $1,279 in Lorain (17% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Decatur81.3
Lorain83.2

Housing Index

Decatur77.7
Lorain82.0

Food Index

Decatur88.8
Lorain85.0

Transportation Index

Decatur74.6
Lorain91.0

Healthcare Index

Decatur91.1
Lorain88.0

Utilities Index

Decatur88.8
Lorain87.4

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Decatur$35,789
Lorain$36,586

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Decatur$84,592
Lorain$86,476

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Decatur$845
Lorain$1,058

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Decatur$1,063
Lorain$1,279

Housing Market

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Lorain has a vacancy rate of 10.8% compared to 14.4% in Decatur. Lorain has a median property tax of $1,657 vs $2,153 in Decatur (30% lower). Lorain has a median home value of $123,500 vs $97,300 in Decatur (21% higher).

Median Home Value

Decatur$97,300
Lorain$123,500

Median Rent

Decatur$796
Lorain$839

Median Property Tax

Decatur$2,153
Lorain$1,657

Owner-Occupied

Decatur62.3%
Lorain55.8%

Vacancy Rate

Decatur14.4%
Lorain10.8%

Single-Family Homes

Decatur75.3%
Lorain74.3%

Jobs & Economy — Decatur leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Decatur has a work from home of 7.5% compared to 5.0% in Lorain. Decatur: 16 min vs Lorain: 23 min for mean commute. Decatur has a poverty rate of 19.1% compared to 27.4% in Lorain.

Median Household Income

Decatur$50,809
Lorain$45,799

Per Capita Income

Decatur$31,990
Lorain$26,583

Poverty Rate

Decatur19.1%
Lorain27.4%

Unemployment Rate

Decatur8.9%
Lorain7.0%

Labor Force

Decatur31,832
Lorain29,038

Mean Commute

Decatur16 min
Lorain23 min

Work from Home

Decatur7.5%
Lorain5.0%

Private Sector

Decatur89.9%
Lorain88.2%

Government Sector

Decatur42.8%
Lorain41.1%

Crime & Safety — Lorain leads

Source: FBI UCR

Lorain has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 2.59 compared to 9.27 in Decatur. Lorain has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.03 compared to 0.07 in Decatur. Lorain has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 15.51 compared to 28.67 in Decatur.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Decatur6.04
Lorain5.81

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Decatur28.67
Lorain15.51

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Decatur0.07
Lorain0.03

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Decatur0.94
Lorain0.54

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Decatur4.55
Lorain4.94

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Decatur9.27
Lorain2.59

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Decatur15.32
Lorain11.52

Violent Crime Clearance

Decatur53.9%
Lorain60.8%

Property Crime Clearance

Decatur24.3%
Lorain22.5%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Avg Annual High

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Avg Annual Low

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Sunny Days per Year

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Annual Rainfall

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Annual Snowfall

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Avg Humidity

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Schools & Education — Decatur leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Decatur has a bachelor's degree or higher of 14.7% compared to 9.6% in Lorain. Decatur has a high school diploma or higher of 42.5% compared to 34.0% in Lorain.

Public Schools

Decatur0
Lorain0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

DecaturN/A
LorainN/A

Colleges & Universities

Decatur0
Lorain0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Decatur14.7%
Lorain9.6%

High School Diploma or Higher

Decatur42.5%
Lorain34.0%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Decatur has a population of 70,368, about 1.1x the size of Lorain (65,207).

Population

Decatur70,368
Lorain65,207

Median Age

Decatur40
Lorain39

Avg Household Size

Decatur2.2
Lorain2.4

Married Population

Decatur34.7%
Lorain29.2%

Foreign Born

Decatur3.1%
Lorain3.1%

White

Decatur67.2%
Lorain58.3%

Black

Decatur24.1%
Lorain17.2%

Hispanic

Decatur3.2%
Lorain27.4%

Asian

Decatur1.4%
Lorain0.8%

Decatur

Lorain

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Decatur: 5 vs Lorain: 3 for with emergency services. Lorain: 4.0 vs Decatur: 2.7 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Decatur5
Lorain5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Decatur2.7
Lorain4.0

With Emergency Services

Decatur5
Lorain3

Transportation & Commute — Decatur leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Decatur has a public transit of 1.3% compared to 0.3% in Lorain. Decatur has a work from home of 7.5% compared to 5.0% in Lorain. Decatur: 16 min vs Lorain: 23 min for mean commute time.

Mean Commute Time

Decatur16 min
Lorain23 min

Drive Alone

Decatur80.2%
Lorain78.5%

Public Transit

Decatur1.3%
Lorain0.3%

Bicycle

Decatur0.1%
Lorain0.1%

Work from Home

Decatur7.5%
Lorain5.0%

Airports

Decatur0
Lorain0

Cities Similar to Decatur, IL

Compare Decatur against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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