What it's like to live in Marion
Marion is a small city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Marion deals with county unemployment above the national average, crime rates above the national average, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Crime above national average
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Marion compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Marion
Based on Marion's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,296
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,920 a year
- 33% of Marion renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$42,480
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $21,240
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,148/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,148 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $212,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $212,400 · 33% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Crittenden County is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Crittenden County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 71% above US
564 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1597/100k · Marion Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 31% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (66 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Marion's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,148/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Marion
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