What are the schools like in Marion, KY?

Marion is served primarily by Crittenden County. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Marion?

The median household income in Marion, KY is $38,023 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

What is the weather like in Marion, KY?

Marion has an average high temperature of 43.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Marion, KY affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marion is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $89,400 and the median rent is $526 per month.

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

Marion has a violent crime rate of 34.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1177.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marion, KY a Good Place to Live?

Marion is a small town of 2,905 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $38,023 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Marion stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 84.4

Marion's overall cost of living index is 84.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marion costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marion, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$89,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$526	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,023	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Marion's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

34.6 /100k

Property Crime

1177.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Marion is served primarily by Crittenden County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marion, KY	National Avg
School District	Crittenden County	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marion sees average highs of 43.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 50.9 inches of annual precipitation and 8.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marion, KY
Average High — January	43.4°F
Average High — July	89.6°F
Annual Precipitation	50.9"
Annual Snowfall	8.5"

Demographics

Metric	Marion, KY	National Avg
Population	2,905	—
Median Age	47.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.9%	22.2%
65 and over	24.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Crayne, KY 3 mi Fredonia, KY 9 mi Salem, KY 10 mi Cave-In-Rock, IL 11 mi Tolu, KY 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Marion

Marion, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

42064

Marion vs Other Cities

Marion, KY vs Crayne, KY Marion, KY vs Fredonia, KY Marion, KY vs Salem, KY Marion, KY vs Cave-In-Rock, IL Marion, KY vs Tolu, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion, KY affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marion roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $89,400 and median rent is $526/month.

What is the crime rate in Marion, KY?

Marion's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1177.7 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 Crittenden County. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 8.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marion, KY a good place to live?

Marion, KY has a population of 2,905, a median household income of $38,023, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. 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 43.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.9 inches with about 8.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marion?

Marion, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42064.

What is the population of Marion?

The population of Marion, Kentucky is 2,905 with a median age of 47.4. 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 84 (100 = US average), median home $89,400, median household income $38,023, crime index 28 (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.