The Town FilesMarion, Ohio
City in Marion County · population 35,999 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,500
- Household income
- $47,951
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.0
Marion is a city of 35,999 people in Marion County, Ohio. The median home is worth $119,500, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 76% of Ohio towns, better transit than 76% of Ohio towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $119,500, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,951, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,500 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $856 | $914 |
| Median household income | $47,951 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 90.9% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.8 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 8, 1979 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 2013.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| April 24, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3286: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 23,100 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,522 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Marion
18 public schools with 8,218 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harding High School | 9-12 | 978 | 12.9 |
| Ulysses S. Grant Middle School | 6-8 | 936 | 14.6 |
| Buckeye Community School - Marion (charter) | 9-12 | 570 | 71.3 |
| Tri-Rivers Career Center | 10-12 | 567 | 16.2 |
| Heritage Elementary School | K-5 | 498 | 19.2 |
| Pleasant Elementary School | K-4 | 489 | 15.8 |
| Elgin Elementary School | K-5 | 465 | 16.6 |
| George Washington Elementary School | PK-5 | 447 | 17.2 |
| Pleasant Middle School | 5-8 | 413 | 27.5 |
| William H. Taft Elementary School | PK-5 | 399 | 19.0 |
| William McKinley Elementary School | PK-5 | 388 | 15.5 |
| Benjamin Harrison Elementary School | PK-5 | 367 | 16.0 |
Towns near Marion
- Mount Gilead, OH15.8 mi · 3,503 people · home $174,300
- Bucyrus, OH16.4 mi · 11,684 people · home $128,600
- Upper Sandusky, OH17.9 mi · 6,698 people · home $157,600
- Galion, OH20.4 mi · 10,453 people · home $112,700
- Delaware, OH21.6 mi · 41,302 people · home $318,400
- Crestline, OH23.5 mi · 4,525 people · home $104,600
- Kenton, OH25.7 mi · 7,947 people · home $107,100
- Carey, OH27.8 mi · 3,565 people · home $158,100
Marion questions
Is Marion, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 4% of Ohio towns and quieter than 8%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $119,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,951, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.8 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 8, 1979. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)