Marion, IA

Census place 1949485 · pop 41,896

C66/ 100
👍 Solid
B
in IA
📍 Iowa ranks #11 of 50 states →
🏆 Uninsured5.4% · top 10%
🚽 Prop tax1.77% · bottom 15%
Taxes
1.77% property · US 0.99%6.94% sales · US 7.00%3.80% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden1.77%15

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.77% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10043

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level44 AQI44

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

44 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity33.8%56

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

33.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$241,70059

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$241,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Broadband access92.9%61

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Violent crime rate146/100k61

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

146 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult smoking12.1%62

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$86,74364

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$86,743 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher38.1%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poverty rate8.1%68

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

8.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)+6.5%70

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+6.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Poor mental health15.5%72

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4075

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity20.2%77

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

20.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Commute time19 min80

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property crime rate563/100k81

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

563 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership77.4%82

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

77.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,244/mo86

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,244/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Uninsured adults5.4%90

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

5.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Frequently asked

Is Marion, IA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Marion scores 66/100 — a C (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is uninsured adults and its weakest is property-tax burden. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Marion, IA?
Marion reports 146 violent crimes per 100k and 563 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Marion, IA expensive to live in?
Marion has a median home value of $241,700 and typical rent around $1,244/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Marion, IA?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.77%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Marion, IA best at?
Its strongest measured area is uninsured adults (5.4%) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.