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Living in
Marion.
About
Life in Marion
It's a working-class city that honestly markets itself as a workforce development hub rather than a lifestyle destination. The community skews older (median age 37.7) with more single-parent households than the national average, reflecting some economic strain. The terrain is flat with productive farmland nearby, and commutes average 20 minutes, so it's accessible to jobs in Columbus while keeping costs low.
Marion at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Marion: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Marion, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (21.0%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.4%
of households
Married Couples
36.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
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 17% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Marion
In Marion, rent runs 17% below the OH average, and home values are 44% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,215
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $169,448 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Marion
Unemployment in Marion is 0.6 percentage points higher than the OH 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
Commute21 min avg
How Marion residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Marion, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 113 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 10% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Marion runs 10% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
363.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,376.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Marion Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 2 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
61.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes Marion, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 2 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 4 | Hail | $24,000 |
| 2023 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $275,200 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $426,100 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $66,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marion County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Delaware County, OH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 23 miles from Marion) is typically good — 204 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
204
per year
Moderate Days
35
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Delaware County, OH (23 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Marion has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.4"
Annual Snowfall
23.8"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.73" |
| Feb | 37°F | 20°F | 1.96" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 2.71" |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 3.83" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.39" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.26" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.30" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 50°F | 32°F | 3.01" |
| Dec | 39°F | 24°F | 2.71" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Marion
Marion has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Marion General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ohiohealth Morrow County Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.7 mi away · Mount Gilead
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.
Education20.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Marion
Marion's student/teacher ratio is 20.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 10.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, 74 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Marion
Marion has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (74 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
75 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
89 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
92 mi awayCuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
93 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Marion
Marion Public Library
445 E. Church St., 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, Ohio affordable?⌄
Marion's median rent is $856/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,951/year. Median home value is $119,500.
Is Marion, Ohio safe?⌄
Marion's violent crime rate was 364 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1376 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Marion, Ohio?⌄
Marion has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Marion, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Marion is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $856/month and median household income is $47,951/year. The median home value is $119,500. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Marion, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Marion is 21 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