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Living in
Marion.
About
Life in Marion
Life in Marion revolves around stability and affordability in a way that appeals to people tired of inflated housing markets—the median home sits around $158,300 and the cost of living runs 8% below the national average, so your paycheck actually goes further here. As the county seat and largest retail hub in Southern Illinois, Marion functions as a genuine commercial center rather than a struggling small town, sitting right on Interstate 57 with easy access to Carbondale (17 miles west) and positioned between Mount Vernon and Paducah for regional connections. The community skews slightly older (median age 41.2) with a solidly working-class character—about 38% of households are married couples and roughly a third are single-person households, reflecting both families and people who've put down roots here for the long term.
Marion at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
84.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Marion: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Marion, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (18.5%), and 1.0% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
23.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.9%
of households
Married Couples
35.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.99
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 28% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Marion
In Marion, rent runs 28% below the IL average, and home values are 40% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,761
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $182,490 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Marion
Unemployment in Williamson County, which includes Marion, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Marion: Williamson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Williamson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Marion Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.9 min avg
How Marion residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Marion, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA)
Regional airport · few flights13k passengers boarded in 2025
- 105 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 28% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Marion runs 28% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
421.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,583.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Marion Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Williamson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Williamson County, which includes Marion, the most common type is strong wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Strong Wind | $25.3M |
| 2024 | 42 | Dense Fog | $676,000 |
| 2023 | 32 | Strong Wind | $10.2M |
| 2022 | 33 | Dense Fog | $157,000 |
| 2021 | 24 | Dense Fog | $14,000 |
| 2020 | 20 | Dense Fog | $7,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Strong Wind | $117,000 |
| 2018 | 39 | Strong Wind | $451,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
5 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Williamson County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 33 miles from Marion) is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
116
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hamilton County, IL (33 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Marion has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.7"
Annual Snowfall
9.8"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
103
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 3.36" |
| Feb | 46°F | 26°F | 3.11" |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 4.52" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 5.55" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 5.18" |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.60" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 3.16" |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 4.49" |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 3.72" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Marion
Marion has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Marion Il VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Heartland Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Herrin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Herrin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Marion
Marion's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, 62 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Marion
Marion has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (62 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
92 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
95 mi awayGeorge Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Marion
Marion Carnegie Library
206 South Market Street, Marion
Cities Near Marion
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Marion?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Marion FAQ
Is Marion, Illinois affordable?⌄
Marion's median rent is $921/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,912/year. Median home value is $158,300.
Is Marion, Illinois safe?⌄
Marion's violent crime rate was 422 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2584 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Marion, Illinois?⌄
Williamson County, which includes Marion, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Marion, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Marion is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $921/month and median household income is $56,912/year. The median home value is $158,300. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Marion, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Marion is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from