Marathon City is a small town of 1,398 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $84,550
and a 2.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Marathon City 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 Marathon City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Marathon City 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: 90.1
Marathon City's overall cost of living index is 90.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Marathon City costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Marathon City, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$187,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$710
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$84,550
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Marathon City's violent crime rate is 128.7 per 100,000 residents
— 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
128.7 /100k
Property Crime
321.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Marathon City is served primarily by Marathon City School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Marathon City, WI
National Avg
School District
Marathon City School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Marathon City sees average highs of 22.8°F in January
and 80.3°F in July,
with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 64.3 inches of snow per year.
Marathon City's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Marathon City roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $187,100 and median rent is $710/month.
Marathon City's violent crime rate is 128.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 321.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Marathon City are operated by Marathon City School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Marathon City, WI has a population of 1,398, a median household income of $84,550, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
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.
Marathon City averages 22.8°F in January and 80.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches
with about 64.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Marathon City, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54448.
The population of Marathon City, Wisconsin is 1,398 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Marathon City: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $187,100, median household income $84,550, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marathon City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
