Population 33,642 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Marion County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Marion County
Household size in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Marion County run small, averaging 2.43 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Household size has dropped from 2.58 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Marion County are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 39.4, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Marion County: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Marion County has a lower share of single-parent households than most Iowa counties.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.4% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Marion County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 41.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.5 points, even as the national share rose.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Marion County as nationally: 8.4%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Marion County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Iowa overall, where the median home dates to 1971. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the southwest has the oldest housing. Few Iowa counties have newer homes: only nine of 99.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $730 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $729 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $717 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $891 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$161 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Marion County runs $891 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $161 a month since 2006–10, up 22%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the southwest.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.8% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Marion County as nationally: 33.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the northwest.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.9% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Marion County: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Marion County has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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 | 2.43 | 40.2 | 7.1% | 22.3% | 8.4% | 1976 | $891 | 33.1% | 94.8% | 2.3% |
| Mahaska County | 2.45 | 39.5 | 9.9% | 32.0% | 9.7% | 1963 | $821 | 24.7% | 93.5% | 3.7% |
| Warren County | 2.56 | 39.2 | 11.0% | 17.7% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,078 | 33.8% | 96.7% | 3.5% |
| Keokuk County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 9.7% | 18.7% | 11.6% | 1952 | $817 | 16.9% | 94.3% | 4.3% |
| Madison County | 2.57 | 40.8 | 10.3% | 19.9% | 6.4% | 1977 | $1,076 | 27.0% | 96.7% | 3.3% |
| Washington County | 2.52 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 26.0% | 7.7% | 1966 | $877 | 26.4% | 93.4% | 2.2% |
| Adair County | 2.26 | 43.1 | 6.6% | 26.1% | 9.1% | 1957 | $855 | 19.6% | 94.7% | 3.6% |
| Louisa County | 2.52 | 44.1 | 6.3% | 19.7% | 10.4% | 1963 | $864 | 16.9% | 86.0% | 2.9% |
| Cass County | 2.23 | 45.1 | 9.9% | 28.4% | 9.5% | 1950 | $797 | 21.7% | 94.4% | 1.5% |
| Muscatine County | 2.43 | 40.0 | 13.7% | 26.1% | 7.4% | 1968 | $1,008 | 23.5% | 89.7% | 3.0% |
| Mercer County | 2.35 | 43.6 | 7.6% | 16.2% | 10.5% | 1961 | $775 | 21.1% | 93.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wasco County, OR · Baker County, FL · Barbour County, AL · Barranquitas Municipio, PR · Barry County, MO · Barton County, KS · Baxter County, AR · Beauregard Parish, LA · Becker County, MN · Waushara County, WI
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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.