What are the schools like in Marion, AL?

Marion is served primarily by Perry County. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Marion?

The median household income in Marion, AL is $36,618 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.7%.

What is the weather like in Marion, AL?

Marion has an average high temperature of 58.2°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 56.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.7 inches.

Marion, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Marion, AL affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marion is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $102,800 and the median rent is $579 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Marion, AL?

Marion has a violent crime rate of 78.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 11.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marion, AL a Good Place to Live?

Marion is a small town of 3,128 in Alabama, with a median household income of $36,618 and a 18.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Marion stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Marion is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Marion city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.1

Marion's overall cost of living index is 86.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marion costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marion, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$102,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$579	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,618	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Marion's violent crime rate is 78.4 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

78.4 /100k

Property Crime

11.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Marion is served primarily by Perry County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marion, AL	National Avg
School District	Perry County	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marion sees average highs of 58.2°F in January and 93.3°F in July, with 56.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marion, AL
Average High — January	58.2°F
Average High — July	93.3°F
Annual Precipitation	56.2"
Annual Snowfall	0.7"

Demographics

Metric	Marion, AL	National Avg
Population	3,128	—
Median Age	23.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	32.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	66.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Newbern, AL 13 mi Uniontown, AL 16 mi Greensboro, AL 17 mi Valley Grande, AL 19 mi Faunsdale, AL 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Marion

Marion, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

36756

Marion vs Other Cities

Marion, AL vs Newbern, AL Marion, AL vs Uniontown, AL Marion, AL vs Greensboro, AL Marion, AL vs Valley Grande, AL Marion, AL vs Faunsdale, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion, AL affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marion roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $102,800 and median rent is $579/month.

What is the crime rate in Marion, AL?

Marion's violent crime rate is 78.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 11.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Marion?

Public schools in Marion are operated by Perry County. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marion, AL a good place to live?

Marion, AL has a population of 3,128, a median household income of $36,618, and an unemployment rate of 18.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Marion?

Marion averages 58.2°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.2 inches with about 0.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marion?

Marion, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36756.

What is the population of Marion?

The population of Marion, Alabama is 3,128 with a median age of 23.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Marion?

Key numbers for living in Marion: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $102,800, median household income $36,618, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marion side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.