Population 400,078 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Marion County
Household size in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Marion County has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Marion County has smaller households than most Florida counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.5 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.9 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.3 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.3, Marion County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 46.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Marion County (10.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Marion County
Renters in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.0% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.5% of households in Marion County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 51.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Marion County: 12.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Marion County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across Florida. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $890 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $844 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $942 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,403 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$513 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Marion County pays $1,403 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $513 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Marion County
Bachelor's degrees in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Marion County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 6.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.0% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.2% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.6% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Marion County is the same as the national rate: 89.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent. The share with a diploma is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Marion County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 6.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Marion County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 2.45 | 47.3 | 10.9% | 22.5% | 12.4% | 1992 | $1,403 | 23.4% | 89.3% | 4.9% |
| Sumter County | 1.98 | 62.9 | 5.1% | 12.4% | 16.8% | 2005 | $1,578 | 35.6% | 92.7% | 5.9% |
| Citrus County | 2.28 | 55.7 | 7.6% | 14.8% | 15.0% | 1991 | $1,167 | 20.2% | 91.6% | 6.1% |
| Levy County | 2.49 | 47.0 | 13.2% | 18.6% | 12.5% | 1993 | $823 | 15.7% | 87.7% | 4.6% |
| Lake County | 2.58 | 46.4 | 9.5% | 22.4% | 12.7% | 1998 | $1,718 | 29.6% | 91.8% | 4.3% |
| Alachua County | 2.32 | 35.9 | 9.6% | 45.9% | 9.7% | 1988 | $1,427 | 50.5% | 94.7% | 4.5% |
| Putnam County | 2.42 | 44.2 | 14.1% | 24.6% | 14.7% | 1984 | $915 | 14.0% | 81.9% | 7.2% |
| Seminole County | 2.62 | 40.6 | 10.3% | 33.8% | 7.1% | 1990 | $1,926 | 43.0% | 94.0% | 4.2% |
| Volusia County | 2.39 | 46.5 | 10.8% | 26.3% | 12.0% | 1988 | $1,639 | 28.6% | 92.0% | 4.2% |
| Flagler County | 2.46 | 51.2 | 8.7% | 17.0% | 12.9% | 2001 | $1,696 | 31.0% | 93.3% | 4.2% |
| Dixie County | 2.59 | 47.1 | 8.8% | 15.3% | 30.0% | 1989 | $788 | 10.6% | 85.3% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: York County, SC · Clackamas County, OR · Charleston County, SC · Cameron County, TX · Butler County, OH · Burlington County, NJ · Brazoria County, TX · Berks County, PA · Benton County, AR · Bell County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Marion County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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