What are the schools like in Marion, OH?

Marion is served primarily by Marion City. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Marion?

The median household income in Marion, OH is $44,879 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.7%.

What is the weather like in Marion, OH?

Marion has an average high temperature of 34.0°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Marion, OH affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marion is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,200 and the median rent is $842 per month.

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

Marion has a violent crime rate of 446.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1320.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marion, OH a Good Place to Live?

Marion is a small city of 35,927 in Ohio, with a median household income of $44,879 and a 8.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% 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: 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: 88.9

Marion's overall cost of living index is 88.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marion costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marion, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$842	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,879	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Marion's violent crime rate is 446.7 per 100,000 residents — 18% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

446.7 /100k

Property Crime

1320.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Marion is served primarily by Marion City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marion, OH	National Avg
School District	Marion City	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marion sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 39.4 inches of annual precipitation and 23.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marion, OH
Average High — January	34.0°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	39.4"
Annual Snowfall	23.8"

Demographics

Metric	Marion, OH	National Avg
Population	35,927	—
Median Age	37.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Green Camp, OH 6 mi Morral, OH 8 mi Caledonia, OH 9 mi Waldo, OH 10 mi New Bloomington, OH 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Marion

Marion, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

43302

Marion vs Other Cities

Marion, OH vs Green Camp, OH Marion, OH vs Morral, OH Marion, OH vs Caledonia, OH Marion, OH vs Waldo, OH Marion, OH vs New Bloomington, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion, OH affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marion roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,200 and median rent is $842/month.

What is the crime rate in Marion, OH?

Marion's violent crime rate is 446.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1320.2 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 Marion City. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 10.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marion, OH a good place to live?

Marion, OH has a population of 35,927, a median household income of $44,879, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%. 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 34.0°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.4 inches with about 23.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marion?

Marion, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 43302.

What is the population of Marion?

The population of Marion, Ohio is 35,927 with a median age of 37.7. 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 89 (100 = US average), median home $97,200, median household income $44,879, crime index 96 (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.