What are the schools like in Marion, SD?

Marion is served primarily by Marion School District 60-3. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

What is the median household income in Marion?

The median household income in Marion, SD is $60,313 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Marion, SD?

Marion has an average high temperature of 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Marion, SD affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marion is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $154,800 and the median rent is $733 per month.

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

Marion has a violent crime rate of 167.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 334.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marion, SD a Good Place to Live?

Marion is a small town of 954 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $60,313 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% 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: 90.3

Marion's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marion costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marion, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$154,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$733	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,313	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Marion's violent crime rate is 167.0 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

167.0 /100k

Property Crime

334.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Marion is served primarily by Marion School District 60-3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marion, SD	National Avg
School District	Marion School District 60-3	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marion sees average highs of 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July, with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation and 40.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marion, SD
Average High — January	26.2°F
Average High — July	84.8°F
Annual Precipitation	26.5"
Annual Snowfall	40.9"

Demographics

Metric	Marion, SD	National Avg
Population	954	—
Median Age	54.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	32.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Monroe, SD 5 mi Parker, SD 7 mi Dolton, SD 8 mi Freeman, SD 10 mi Canistota, SD 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Marion

Marion, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57043

Marion vs Other Cities

Marion, SD vs Monroe, SD Marion, SD vs Parker, SD Marion, SD vs Dolton, SD Marion, SD vs Freeman, SD Marion, SD vs Canistota, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion, SD affordable or expensive?

Marion's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marion roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $154,800 and median rent is $733/month.

What is the crime rate in Marion, SD?

Marion's violent crime rate is 167.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 334.0 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 School District 60-3. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marion, SD a good place to live?

Marion, SD has a population of 954, a median household income of $60,313, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches with about 40.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marion?

Marion, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57043.

What is the population of Marion?

The population of Marion, South Dakota is 954 with a median age of 54.3. 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 90 (100 = US average), median home $154,800, median household income $60,313, crime index 33 (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.