Town · Virginia
Marion, Virginia
Marion, town, in Smyth County, Virginia. Marion had 5,555 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,751 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,670 (±27). GEOID 5149464.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,555
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,751 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,670 ±27
Median household income
$40,896
±$8,285 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$172,500
±$19,743 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$714
±$64 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Marion and what county is it in?
Marion is a town in Smyth County, Virginia. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 1,200 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Marion, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,555 people lived in Marion on July 1, 2025, down 3.4% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,751 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,670 (±27).
| Measure | Marion | Smyth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,670 ±27 | 29,420 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,431 ±174 | 12,659 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.10 ±0.14 | 2.26 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,803 ±220 | 15,080 | no clear change |
Marion's population since 2000
From 6,349 in 2000 to 5,555 in 2025: down 12.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Marion as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Marion?
The median resident of Marion is 44.8 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 21.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.8%.
| Measure | Marion | Smyth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 ±3.6 | 46.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.4% ±3.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.9% ±3.4 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Male | 47.8% ±3.4 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.3% ±1.9 pts | 2.1% | +2.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.8% ±2.9 pts | 93.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.8% ±1.8 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±2.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±2.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 23.3% ±5.0 pts | 23.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±2.1 pts | 5.5% | −7.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.2% ±3.7 pts | 86.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.4% ±4.0 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9% ±2.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±4.4 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.1% ±1.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Marion earn?
Half of Marion's 2,431 households earn less than $40,896 a year (±$8,285), against $49,883 in Smyth County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $38,821 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Marion | Smyth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,896 ±$8,285 | $49,883 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $69,018 ±$9,362 | $68,477 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,370 ±$3,867 | $30,460 | +$6,974 |
| People below the poverty line | 20.7% ±4.7 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.9% ±8.2 pts | 19.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.7% ±5.4 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.8% ±4.9 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.9% ±5.0 pts | 80.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Marion?
Owners occupy 53.8% of Marion's occupied homes and renters 46.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $172,500 by its owner (±$19,743). The median renter pays $714 a month including utilities, and 43.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Marion | Smyth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $172,500 ±$19,743 | $139,600 | +$49,677 |
| Median gross rent | $714 ±$64 | $731 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.0% ±13.4 pts | 34.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,220 ±$134 | $1,125 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.8% ±5.3 pts | 71.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.2% ±5.3 pts | 29.0% | – |
| Housing units | 2,803 ±220 | 15,080 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% ±4.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.6% ±5.8 pts | 72.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% ±0.9 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.2% ±5.5 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.4% ±4.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Marion work and get to work?
77.5% of Marion's workers drive alone and 9.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.
| Measure | Marion | Smyth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.4% ±5.3 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% ±2.6 pts | 3.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.5% ±6.2 pts | 82.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.8% ±5.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.8% ±4.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.9 min ±3.8 | 22.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Marion?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Marion, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $34,815 (Tract 306) to $50,114 (Tract 303.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 303.02Smyth County | 3,998 | $50,114 |
| Tract 306Smyth County | 2,744 | $34,815 |
| Tract 303.01Smyth County | 2,185 | $39,325 |
| Tract 305Smyth County | 2,439 | $40,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Marion) · Census block assignment files
How does Marion compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Marion is the 4,619th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 59th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Marion ranks 352nd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 59th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 123rd | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 198th | 374 |
| Median household income | 352nd | 365 |
| Per capita income | 284th | 374 |
| Median home value | 302nd | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 318th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 45th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 285th | 359 |
| Median age | 78th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 301st | 368 |
| Work from home | 241st | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 355th | 372 |
Marion's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Marion with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Marion?
12 of the 57 figures for Marion on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Marion are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Marion.