What it's like to live in Marysville
Marysville is a smaller city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Marysville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Marysville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Marysville
Based on Marysville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,994
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,880 a year
- 53% of Marysville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$113,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $56,790
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 41% above US
$1,997/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,997 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $567,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $567,900 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 12% above US
4.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1338/100k · Marysville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.5 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 73°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (26 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Marysville's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,997/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Marysville
All Washington guides →Moving to Arlington →
6 mi away · pop. 21,095
Rent $1,905/mo · Income $88,231
Compare with Marysville →Moving to Lake Stevens →
6 mi away · pop. 40,253
Rent $2,224/mo · Income $122,336
Compare with Marysville →Moving to Snohomish →
11 mi away · pop. 10,239
Rent $1,654/mo · Income $87,250
Compare with Marysville →Not sure Marysville is the one?
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