$314,522Average Value$224Average Price per Sq Ft60Homes For Sale
Vermilion residents enjoy waterfront activities such as boating, kayaking, and swimming at the beach.
“Small Town on a Great Lake”
Where Lake Erie meets the Vermilion River, the city of Vermilion makes the most of its waterfront location. The community quickly established itself in the early 1800s as a fishing village, and its sphere of influence grew through the introduction of railroads and new industries. Today, the city thrives through commercial fishing, sandstone mining, shipbuilding and logging. Over 120 trains serve Vermilion's economy, and the city expects that number to rise to over 200 in the next century. Residents love the outdoors, spending their days exploring preserves and boating on the lake. Downtown Vermilion attracts locals and visitors with its diverse small businesses and yearlong list of events.
Residents find every excuse to be outdoors
Vermilion is all about outdoor living. The city has over 16 public parks and access to over 2,000 feet of Lake Erie's shoreline. "There's less than 20% of public access to Lake Erie, so Vermilion's very large public beach in the heart of downtown is a rarity," says Kate Repola, Main Street Vermilion's executive director. Main Street Beach & Park is easily spotted by its historic lighthouse and collection of rainbow Adirondack chairs. Throughout the year, people gather to swim and admire the sky. "Sunsets are a really big thing around here," Repola says. "You can go down to the beach, and there will be about 100 folks watching the sunset." Port Authority docks and ramps allow boaters to launch onto Lake Erie or the Vermilion River. The river is also popular for Mystic Belle paddle-wheeler rides and self-guided water trail tours via kayak or canoe. On land, cyclists travel throughout Lorain County on the Back Roads & Beaches Bike Route. This multi-sport trail winds past forests and countryside alpaca farms.
Vermilion's Harbor View Park is home to Main Street Beach—the city's largest public beachfront.
Some parks in Vermilion, such as Sherod Park, have small quiet beaches where visitors can find sea glass.
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Waterfront and rural living all wrapped up in one
Colonial-inspired homes, Cape Cods, New Traditional houses, ranch-style homes and bungalows are among the most common styles in the city. More rural areas allow for multi-acre lots and increased privacy, while suburban communities have less space between neighbors, shorter driveways and sidewalks. Downtown has many waterfront properties along the lake and river. Dense shade trees are common in every neighborhood. The city's median price is $260,000, significantly less than the national median.
Most New Traditional homes in Vermilion has two car garages and wide driveways.
Waterfront homes on the Vermilion River have access to private docks.
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Downtown blooms with thriving businesses
Downtown Vermilion is the heart of the activity, from shopping and dining to outdoor events. It's been an accredited Main Street USA for the past 20 years, which has "worked tenfold in Vermilion," Repola says. "We know that a thriving downtown has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the community." Boutique shops and locally owned restaurants are on every corner. Flower baskets, public art and live music help add vibrancy to the atmosphere.
Vermilion's Crystal's Treasure Box transforms Lake Erie sea glass into one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Woodstock, a Vermilion eatery, is known for its 70s inspired decor.
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Winter weather predictions with the Woollybear
Main Street Vermilion plans most events, from open-air concerts at the lighthouse to big festivals. For over 50 years, the city has held the Woollybear Festival. This lighthearted tradition uses the colors of the Isabella tiger moth's fuzzy larvae to forecast what kind of winter is ahead. The festival's parade is one of the largest in the state, lasting over 2 hours. Other major celebrations include the annual Festival of the Fish and Ice-A-Fair. This wintery event displays over 60 ice sculptures, frozen playgrounds and ice-carving demos throughout the city. The pinnacle event involves a bonfire inside a giant, intricately carved ice chimney. "It's a race to see if the fire will win or the water," Repola says.
The annual All Washed Up event is a unique occasion. Locals gather driftwood from Lake Erie and transform it into complex sculptures. "We self-title ourselves as the Driftwood Capital of the World because we have and do some much with it," Repola says. A professional woodworker judges the creations, and booths let artisans sell their work.
Vermilion's school pipelines
Students attend either the Vermilion Local School District or Firelands Local School District. Both have B ratings on Niche and offer one elementary, middle and high school per district.
Vermilion High School is home to the Sailors.
Vermilion Elementary School offers a variety of after school programs for students.
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Taking golf carts to the street
Rural roads are usually long forested stretches with very low traffic. Primary avenues like Highway 6, Vermilion Road and West River Road experience more activity as they pass through downtown and densely populated neighborhoods. Driving is how most people get around, and some residents get their golf carts street-legal through inspections. Trains pass in and out of the city all day, but their roaring presence is a well-loved part of the community. The city is about 7 miles from Mercy Health Lorain Hospital and 33 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Temperate lakeside weather and crime statistics
Vermilion experiences moderate weather year-round. "Lake Erie keeps us warm, so we have beautiful fall weather longer than some other Ohio communities," Repola says. Winter temperatures occasionally cause river ice jams, and parking bans keep streets clear for snow plowing. Flooding around Lake Erie is low, but Vermilion River and Brownhelm Creek floods impact some rural homes, roads and train tracks.
The FBI reports that while violent crime in Vermilion increased between 2022 and 2023, property crime rates have steadily declined since 2018.
Written By
Isabel Butler
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
Video By
Stewart Taveras
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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On average, homes in Vermilion, OH sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Vermilion, OH over the last 12 months is $275,250, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Charles MaurerCENTURY 21 DePiero & Associates, Inc.
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