City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Marion, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Marion - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

27,384
Residents
$43,349
Median income
$83,200
Median home
$956
Median rent (state)

Marion - the verdict

Marion ranks in the 11th percentile for household income and the 55th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

11th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
55th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Marion, IN

27,384 people live in Marion, Indiana - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Marion households earn a median of $43,349 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 23.3%. Home values in Marion run a median of $83,200, and the median resident age is 34.8 years. About 17.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 20 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 35% from five years earlier. Marion reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1211.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 50.4°F with 41.8 inches of precipitation per year and 24.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: the state registers 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $956 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Indiana's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

27,384 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$43,349 /yr

Poverty 23.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Marion compare to other US cities?

Here's how Marion stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 55% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Indiana alone, Marion ranks #61 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Marion against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Marion near the bottom of Indiana's cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Marion ranks #610 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Marion only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#703 of 766
8th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#610 of 850
0th percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#692 of 771
10th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#65 of 849
92nd percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#359 of 850
58th percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

11thIncome percentile
55thSafety percentile

11th percentile nationally for median household income · 55th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Marion's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Marion's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 53 Avg. percentile National median
Marion's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Marion's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$83,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Marion $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Marion, IN Marion, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Marion, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Marion, IN median $43,349/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Marion, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Marion, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
27,384
Median Income
$43,349
Median Home Value
$83,200
Median Age
34.8
Poverty Rate
23.3%
Labor force participation
51.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1211.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
106.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1104.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.4°F
Annual Precipitation
41.8"
Annual Snowfall
24.5"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
27,900 residents28,000 residents28,100 residents28,200 residents28,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 28,246 residents 28,234 residents ▼ -0.0%
Marion's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
20
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 31
2020 46
2021 4
2022 51
2023 48
2024 20

Permit volume decreased 35% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.2%
Carpool
10.7%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
9.9%
Work from Home
5.8%
Other
2.0%

Based on 11,164 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Marion sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$956/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

East Chicago
26,158 people
Franklin
25,999 people
Schererville
29,627 people
Hobart
29,646 people
Granger
30,279 people
Brownsburg
30,310 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Marion's 27,384 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Green, OH
27,381 people
Neenah, WI
27,409 people
Asheboro, NC
27,353 people
Clinton, MS
27,418 people
Millville, NJ
27,432 people
Deer Park, NY
27,334 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Marion's $43,349 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

McMinnville, TN
$43,348 median income
Corrigan, TX
$43,352 median income
Jasper, GA
$43,353 median income
Pine Hill, AL
$43,359 median income
Robersonville, NC
$43,359 median income
Jakes Corner, AZ
$43,333 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Marion, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Marion, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.8% 9.8% 8.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.2% White 77.8% Black or African American 9.8% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 8.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Marion compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Marion (this city) 27,384 $43,349
East Chicago 26,158 $41,071
Franklin 25,999 $77,305
Schererville 29,627 $86,020
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Marion, IN?

What is the population of Marion, IN? +

Marion, IN has a population of 27,384 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Marion, IN? +

Marion households earn a median of $43,349 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Marion? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Marion; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Marion, IN safe? +

Marion has a total crime rate of 1211.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Marion, IN? +

A typical home in Marion is worth $83,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Marion? +

Climate normals put Marion's yearly average temperature at 50.4°F, 41.8 inches of precipitation, and 24.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.