Miles from Ohio’s metropolitan areas lies Lima, a tiny city centered on the intersection of state routes 65 and 81. Small businesses and locally owned restaurants cling to these thoroughfares for a few blocks in each direction, after which small homes dot the landscape for a 2-mile radius. “There’s just a lot downtown,” says Realtor Sheila Custer of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Lima retains its small town-feel with an involved and well-funded set of neighborhood associations and nonprofits, such as the West Ohio Food Bank and the Heartbeat of Lima. “We have a new central district which has a Neighborhood Impact Grant,” says Custer. “It’s phenomenal.” One surprising fact about Lima is the workforce, of which healthcare professionals are the largest number. Major employers for Lima and its surrounding areas are St. Rita’s Medical Center and the Lima Memorial Health System. Skilled trade workers constitute the second largest base. Compared to other densely populated parts of Ohio, Lima’s home prices are lower than average.
St Rita's Medical Center is a major employer to residents in Lima.
The Lima Memorial Health System offers medical care to the residents of Lima.
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Lima's accessibly priced early 20th century homes
The majority of Lima’s homes were built in the early-to-mid-20th century. Simple, neat exteriors occasionally reflect new paint or siding, but their basic architecture remains unchanged. A handful of styles appear outside the city center, including ranch-styles, bungalows and Foursquares. In 2024, nearly 400 homes sold on Lima’s north and west ends, in contrast to more infrequent sales elsewhere. Prospective buyers can expect to find a three-bedroom home between $80,000 and $260,000 on average, with a median 2024 price of $168,000. Renters will find apartment complexes throughout the city.
Central Lima is a quiet community situated within Lima, Ohio.
There are many housing styles available for those considering moving to Westgate.
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A day outdoors at Schoonover Park
Small parks are available no more than a mile from the city center. Schoonover Park is a local favorite that’s easily recognizable, thanks to its centerpiece lake. Spanning 25 acres, Schoonover Lake is a spot where residents can swim, fish and walk the trails. Back indoors, the telescope at the Schoonover Observatory allows residents to observe the stars. A cluster of adjacent green spaces lie in the opposite direction toward Lima’s southwest end. Faurot Park is a great place for kids to spend time on the playground or fish in its tiny pond. The park also has a number of dugouts for a ball game. Immediately south is Collett Street Park, featuring tennis courts and a soccer field.
Schoonover Park has a centrally located lake for residents to enjoy.
Faurot Park in Lima has a beautiful playground for kids to enjoy.
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Summertime concerts in Faurot Park
Outdoor fun isn’t limited to sports in the park, however. “Lima has free concerts during the summertime. We have free music every week depending on where you go,” Custer says. “You just bring your lawn chair and listen to local bands or whatever.” The Concerts in the Park series is an annual festival that showcases weekly live music . Faurot Park is the venue, whose Rotary Pavilion is large enough to host local bands and ensembles for a musical summer afternoon. The park seats nearly 5,000.
Rotary Pavilion at Faurot Park in Lima has summer concerts for locals to enjoy.
Faurot Park in Lima has beautiful green spaces as well as walking paths.
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Locally owned restaurants in Lima
Most of the city’s restaurants are clustered in three distinct neighborhoods: Westgate, Central Lima and Eastside Lima. The only recognizable chain in town might be Kewpee Hamburgers, an old school fast-food drive-thru. Aside from that, locally owned and operated restaurants are the city’s theme. An Italian and a Mexican restaurant are both located in Westgate, while a couple of pubs and cafes find their home in Central Lima. Eastside Lima has a steakhouse and wing spot. Lima also has a fair number of grocery stores, such as Save a Lot, Aldi and smaller, non-chain stores.
Casa Lu Al in Central Lima is a wonderful Italian restaurant.
Come to The Met in Central Lima for a handcrafted brew and some great American fare.
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Lima City Schools
Students can attend Lima City Schools, whose district gets a C overall from Niche. The average student-to-teacher ratio across these schools is 14 to 1, which is slightly lower than the national average. Some 3,400 students learn at one of these city schools, which employ nearly 1,000 faculty. the area is also home to Ohio State University Lima, with a campus 4.5 miles east of Central Lima and a student body of less than 1,000.
Lima West Middle School serves students in grades 7 and 8 in Lima.
Lima Senior High School is one of the local public schools in the city of Lima.
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Accessing the city via two major roads
Because two major roads intersect in Central Lima, reaching any corner of the city is relatively easy. Driving eastbound through Lima from end to end is a distance of 6 miles that lasts about 16 minutes. Lima’s buses serve nearly every residential pocket. Residents also have access to a number of hospitals in Central Lima. Interstate 75 leads north to Toledo and south to Dayton, but U.S. 30 is the route to Fort Wayne, about 70 miles to the northwest and the nearest commercial airport.
Crime and weather in Lima
Lima Police reported a higher rate of reported violent crime and property crime than the Ohio and national averages, though the trend has been relatively stable since 2020, according to FBI data. The Lima Police Department has a Crime Prevention Unit, which offers home surveys to assess the security of a resident’s home and give suggestions how to better bolster that security.
The city experiences four seasons and averages about 2 feet of snow annually.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
