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Living in
Marion.
About
Life in Marion
Marion offers an affordable, growing suburban lifestyle within the Cedar Rapids metro area, making it practical for people who want small-town character without complete isolation. The median home value sits around $241,700 with median household income at $87,105, giving you reasonable housing costs compared to many Midwest metros—and the job market is solid with low unemployment. Your commute to Cedar Rapids jobs averages just 19 minutes, so you're not tethered to Marion's own job base if you need more options.
Marion at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
+2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Marion: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Marion, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.7%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.1%
of households
Married Couples
54.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
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 about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Marion
In Marion, home values are 16% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,280
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $279,729 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Marion
Unemployment in Marion is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Marion Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.2 min avg
How Marion residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Marion, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
Small hub801k 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 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Marion runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
126.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
603
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Marion Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Linn County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Linn County, which includes Marion, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Winter Storm | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $36,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Linn County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Linn County, which includes Marion, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
136
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Linn County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Marion has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.8"
Annual Snowfall
34.3"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 13°F | 1.17" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 2.06" |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 4.02" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.74" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 5.68" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 4.47" |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 4.42" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.96" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 48°F | 29°F | 2.22" |
| Dec | 35°F | 19°F | 1.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Marion
Uninsured
3.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Marion's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Lukes Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Cedar Rapids
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Cedar Rapids
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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Marion
Marion's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Marion (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,591 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 33% graduate · median earnings $45,413 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,164 students · in-state tuition $56,730 · 64% graduate · median earnings $60,502 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,107 students · in-state tuition $42,772 · 63% graduate · median earnings $59,669 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Marion
Marion has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayEffigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Marion
Marion Public Library
1101 6th Ave, 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, Iowa affordable?⌄
Marion's median rent is $961/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $86,743/year. Median home value is $241,700.
Is Marion, Iowa safe?⌄
Marion's violent crime rate was 126 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 603 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Marion, Iowa?⌄
Marion has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Marion, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Marion is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $961/month and median household income is $86,743/year. The median home value is $241,700. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Marion, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Marion is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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