MarionCoCH · Spacini (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0MarionLibrary · MadameGraffigny Art Davis / CC BY-SA 3.0Downtown marion kansas 2009 · shannonpatrick17 / CC BY 2.0Elgin Hotel Marion Co Kansas front · SharonPapierdreams / CC BY-SA 4.0
Marion is a small town of 1,837 in Kansas, with a median household income of $55,542
.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 84.9
Marion's overall cost of living index is 84.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Marion costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Marion, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$621
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,542
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Marion's violent crime rate is 151.5 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
151.5 /100k
Property Crime
647.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Marion is served primarily by Marion-Florence.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Marion, KS
National Avg
School District
Marion-Florence
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Marion sees average highs of 41.0°F in January
and 92.2°F in July,
with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.1 inches of snow per year.
Marion's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Marion roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,500 and median rent is $621/month.
Marion's violent crime rate is 151.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 647.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Marion are operated by Marion-Florence.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Marion, KS has a population of 1,837, a median household income of $55,542, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Marion averages 41.0°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches
with about 12.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Marion, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66861.
The population of Marion, Kansas is 1,837 with a median age of 47.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Marion: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $88,500, median household income $55,542, crime index 36 (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.
