The Town FilesMarion, Virginia
Town in Smyth County · population 5,751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,500
- Household income
- $40,896
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.8
Marion is a town of 5,751 people in Smyth County, Virginia. The median home is worth $172,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 74% of Virginia towns, quieter than 70% of Virginia towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $172,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $40,896, which is more affordable than 33% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $714 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $714 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $40,896 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 91.8% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2024.
Severe weather in Smyth County since 1996
Smyth County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Smyth County
Smyth County had 11,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,271 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Marion
6 public schools with 1,669 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Senior High | 9-12 | 596 | 12.4 |
| Marion Middle | 6-8 | 389 | 11.1 |
| Oak Point Elementary | PK-5 | 375 | 13.4 |
| Marion Elementary | PK-5 | 309 | 12.4 |
| Southwestern Va Mental Health Institute | 6-12 | — | — |
| Smyth County Career & Technical Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Marion
- Tazewell, VA20.2 mi · 4,486 people · home $111,700
- Richlands, VA23.8 mi · 5,261 people · home $111,000
- Wytheville, VA24.9 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Abingdon, VA26.8 mi · 8,376 people · home $228,000
Marion questions
Is Marion, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 74% of Virginia towns and quieter than 70%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $172,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,896, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $714 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 17.0 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)