Marathon is a small town of 204 in Iowa, with a median household income of $38,750
and a 19.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Marathon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Marathon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Marathon 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: 83.6
Marathon's overall cost of living index is 83.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Marathon costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Marathon, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$40,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$767
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Marathon's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
214.1 /100k
Property Crime
1100.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Marathon, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Marathon sees average highs of 25.3°F in January
and 81.9°F in July,
with 32.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.2 inches of snow per year.
Marathon's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Marathon roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $40,000 and median rent is $767/month.
Marathon's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1100.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Marathon, IA has a population of 204, a median household income of $38,750, and an unemployment rate of 19.8%.
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.
Marathon averages 25.3°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.0 inches
with about 35.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Marathon, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50565.
The population of Marathon, Iowa is 204 with a median age of 46.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Marathon: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $40,000, median household income $38,750, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marathon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.