The Town FilesMarion, Illinois
City in Williamson County · population 16,855 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,300
- Household income
- $56,912
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.2
Marion is a city of 16,855 people in Williamson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $158,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Illinois towns, hipper than 84% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $158,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $56,912, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $921 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $921 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,912 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 5.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 207 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Williamson County since 1996
Williamson County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Williamson County
Williamson County had 28,465 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,081 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Marion
10 public schools with 3,863 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High School | 9-12 | 1,105 | 13.3 |
| Marion Jr High School | 6-8 | 704 | 14.1 |
| Lincoln Elem School | K-5 | 493 | 13.7 |
| Washington Elem School | K-5 | 479 | 12.6 |
| Crab Orchard Elementary School | PK-8 | 345 | 17.3 |
| Jefferson Elem School | PK-5 | 344 | 14.3 |
| Longfellow Elem School | K-5 | 252 | 13.3 |
| Crab Orchard High School | 9-12 | 141 | 10.1 |
| Williamson Co Intensive Program | Other | — | — |
| Williamson Co Learning Cntr | Other | — | — |
Towns near Marion
- Johnston City, IL6.0 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- Herrin, IL6.6 mi · 12,352 people · home $113,300
- Carterville, IL8.1 mi · 5,848 people · home $197,100
- West Frankfort, IL11.4 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- Carbondale, IL15.5 mi · 21,857 people · home $127,900
- Christopher, IL17.4 mi · 2,697 people · home $66,600
- Benton, IL19.3 mi · 6,709 people · home $87,200
- Murphysboro, IL21.5 mi · 7,093 people · home $85,900
Marion questions
Is Marion, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 49% of Illinois towns and quieter than 30%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $158,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,912, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $921 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.6 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)