Downtown Marlin 2024 Wiki · Renegomezphotography / CC BY-SA 4.0Downtown Marlin, TX IMG 6216 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Falls County Courthouse, Marlin, TX IMg 6211 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Falls Community Hospital, Marlin, TX IMG 6220 · Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Marlin is a small town of 5,478 in Texas, with a median household income of $31,240
and a 13.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Marlin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Marlin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Marlin 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: 90.8
Marlin's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Marlin costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Marlin, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$78,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$520
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$31,240
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Marlin's violent crime rate is 232.0 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
232.0 /100k
Property Crime
963.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Marlin is served primarily by MARLIN ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Marlin, TX
National Avg
School District
MARLIN ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Marlin sees average highs of 59.1°F in January
and 94.5°F in July,
with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Marlin's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Marlin roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $78,200 and median rent is $520/month.
Marlin's violent crime rate is 232.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 963.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Marlin are operated by MARLIN ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 7.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Marlin, TX has a population of 5,478, a median household income of $31,240, and an unemployment rate of 13.9%.
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.
Marlin averages 59.1°F in January and 94.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Marlin, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 76661.
The population of Marlin, Texas is 5,478 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Marlin: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $78,200, median household income $31,240, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marlin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
