The Town FilesMarathon, Florida
City in Monroe County · population 9,689 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $725,800
- Household income
- $89,355
- Jan low / Jul high
- 64° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 45.6
Marathon is a city of 9,689 people in Monroe County, Florida. The median home is worth $725,800, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 78% of Florida towns.
How Marathon ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marathon is worth $725,800, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 8.1 times the median household income of $89,355, which is more affordable than 5% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,633 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marathon | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $725,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,633 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $89,355 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.4% | — |
Who lives in Marathon
| People | Marathon | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 13.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Marathon
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 64.2°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marathon since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 26, 2005 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 8, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 47,058 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,702 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Marathon itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Marathon
2 public schools with 1,365 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARATHON SCHOOL | 6-12 | 772 | 15.1 |
| STANLEY SWITLIK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 593 | 13.8 |
Towns near Marathon
- Big Pine Key, FL21.4 mi · 4,521 people · home $637,000
Marathon questions
Is Marathon, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marathon scores better for retirees than 78% of Florida towns and quieter than 59%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Marathon?
The median owner-occupied home in Marathon is valued at $725,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,355, so homes cost about 8.1 times income. Median rent is $1,633 a month.
What is the weather like in Marathon?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 64.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Marathon get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marathon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 26, 2005. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)