The Town FilesMarion, North Carolina
City in McDowell County · population 7,717 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,500
- Household income
- $51,314
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.1
Marion is a city of 7,717 people in McDowell County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $163,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $163,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,314, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 51.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $762 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,314 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1998 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 24, 2000.
Severe weather in McDowell County since 1996
McDowell County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in McDowell County
McDowell County had 15,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,365 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Marion
12 public schools with 4,909 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell High School | 9-12 | 1,384 | 15.4 |
| West McDowell Middle School | 6-8 | 581 | 14.9 |
| Glenwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 429 | 14.3 |
| East McDowell Middle School | 6-8 | 411 | 12.5 |
| West Marion Elementary School | PK-5 | 393 | 13.1 |
| Marion Elementary School | PK-5 | 356 | 15.5 |
| Pleasant Gardens Elementary School | PK-5 | 309 | 14.0 |
| Eastfield Global Magnet School | PK-5 | 274 | 12.5 |
| McDowell Early College | 9-13 | 229 | 20.8 |
| North Cove Elementary School | PK-5 | 221 | 13.8 |
| Foothills Community School | 6-8 | 196 | 17.8 |
| McDowell Academy for Innovation | 9-13 | 126 | 15.8 |
Towns near Marion
- Morganton, NC17.4 mi · 17,474 people · home $221,700
- Black Mountain, NC18.7 mi · 8,426 people · home $358,900
- Rutherfordton, NC21.7 mi · 3,640 people · home $288,400
- Spindale, NC22.3 mi · 4,225 people · home $167,400
- Swannanoa, NC22.3 mi · 5,021 people · home $287,500
- Valdese, NC24.6 mi · 4,689 people · home $209,800
- Forest City, NC24.7 mi · 7,377 people · home $160,800
- Fairview, NC24.9 mi · 2,771 people · home $439,600
Marion questions
Is Marion, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 38% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 48%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $163,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,314, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1998. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)