Marion is a small town of 7,652 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $48,520
and a 9.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Marion stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
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: 87.6
Marion's overall cost of living index is 87.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Marion costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Marion, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$122,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$610
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,520
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Marion's violent crime rate is 242.1 per 100,000 residents
— 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
242.1 /100k
Property Crime
3201.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Marion is served primarily by McDowell County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Marion, NC
National Avg
School District
McDowell County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Marion sees average highs of 48.9°F in January
and 85.3°F in July,
with 56.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.1 inches of snow per year.
Marion's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Marion roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $122,200 and median rent is $610/month.
Marion's violent crime rate is 242.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3201.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Marion are operated by McDowell County Schools.
The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Marion, NC has a population of 7,652, a median household income of $48,520, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%.
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.
Marion averages 48.9°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.6 inches
with about 7.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Marion, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28752.
The population of Marion, North Carolina is 7,652 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Marion: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $122,200, median household income $48,520, crime index 99 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.
