Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Lima, OH Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

35,010

Median Agei

36.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

64.3%22,517

Black

20.4%7,158

Two or More

8.9%3,108

Hispanic/Latino

4.8%1,670

Asian

0.9%309

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%153

Other

0.3%95

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

9.8%2,268

High School Diploma

35.4%8,194

Some College (<1 yr)

6.9%1,605

Some College (1+ yr)

14.3%3,318

Associate's Degree

8.9%2,061

Bachelor's Degree

8.2%1,891

Master's Degree

3.3%765

Professional Degree

0.6%135

Doctorate

0.7%162

HS or Higher

88.1%

BA or Higher

12.8%

Graduate+

4.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$107,200

Median Renti

$903

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

45.6%6,510

Renter-Occupied

54.4%7,763

Total Units

15,950

Homeownership

45.6%

Vacancy Rate

10.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

13.2%857

$50K–$100K

32.5%2,116

$100K–$150K

28%1,820

$150K–$200K

16.4%1,068

$200K–$300K

6.7%437

$300K–$500K

2.6%170

$500K–$1M

0.4%25

$1M+

0.3%17

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,024

$500–$750

1,551

$750–$1,000

2,046

$1,000–$1,250

1,937

$1,250–$1,500

673

$1,500–$2,000

232

$2,000+

118

Year Built

2020 or later

0.7%116

2010–2019

4.2%668

2000–2009

2.4%380

1990–1999

4.1%656

1980–1989

5.5%878

1970–1979

11.7%1,867

1960–1969

12.4%1,971

1950–1959

16.5%2,634

1940–1949

11.3%1,808

1939 or earlier

31.2%4,972

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

71.5%10,199

Electricity

26.6%3,802

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%133

No Fuel

0.6%88

Fuel Oil

0.3%37

Wood

0.1%14

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$46,240

Mean Household Incomei

$59,037

Per Capita Incomei

$24,787

Poverty Ratei

22.7%

Unemploymenti

8.5%

Labor Forcei

16,112

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

8.3%1,183

$10K–$15K

7%993

$15K–$20K

6.1%877

$20K–$25K

6.3%901

$25K–$30K

4%569

$30K–$35K

5.7%814

$35K–$40K

5.3%751

$40K–$45K

6.1%866

$45K–$50K

5.3%760

$50K–$60K

5.5%780

$60K–$75K

11.7%1,667

$75K–$100K

15.1%2,162

$100K–$125K

7.3%1,047

$125K–$150K

2.3%335

$150K–$200K

2%280

$200K+

2%288

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,938

Residentsi

3,745

Avg. Tenant Renti

$349/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

11 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing224 homes88% occupied$354/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers910 homes84% occupied$393/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8741 homes94% occupied$294/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC31 homes96% occupied$365/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $46,240/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $14K/yr

81.4%

Very low income$14K–$23K/yr

16.2%

Low income$23K–$37K/yr

1.8%

Moderate / aboveOver $37K/yr

0.6%

Who Receives This Housing

74.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

56.2% of subsidized households are minority

21.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

29.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

14,346

Avg. Commutei

17.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

14,697

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,870(7% of civilian adults)