Population 37,000 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Marion County
Household size in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Marion County is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.43 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.1 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Marion County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 41.8, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the south.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Marion County than nationally: 13.2%, against 11.6%. Marion County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Illinois 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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Marion County own their homes; 25.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About half of owners (50.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Marion County is close to the national rate: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Illinois as a whole (8.1%). Vacancy has edged down 1.1 points since 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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Marion County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. That is in line with the rest of Illinois. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $616 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $636 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $680 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $841 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$225 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Marion County runs $841 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $225 a month from 2006–10, a 37% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Marion County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.8%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.9 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.9% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Marion County have finished high school as nationally: 90.3%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.4 points since 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 | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Marion County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.1 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 | 2.39 | 40.7 | 13.2% | 25.3% | 11.1% | 1973 | $841 | 16.8% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Clinton County | 2.42 | 42.1 | 7.3% | 19.7% | 8.3% | 1978 | $931 | 26.7% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Wayne County | 2.37 | 42.5 | 8.6% | 21.6% | 10.3% | 1976 | $704 | 16.1% | 89.1% | 3.5% |
| St. Clair County | 2.57 | 40.2 | 13.5% | 31.6% | 11.5% | 1978 | $1,199 | 33.0% | 93.4% | 5.6% |
| Edwards County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 9.6% | 20.7% | 11.6% | 1969 | $704 | 14.2% | 92.0% | 4.8% |
| St. Louis City | 2.02 | 38.2 | 13.3% | 54.7% | 16.3% | 1946 | $1,044 | 41.0% | 90.7% | 5.9% |
| Wabash County | 2.32 | 42.3 | 13.2% | 23.7% | 13.5% | 1965 | $793 | 17.6% | 92.6% | 3.8% |
| St. Louis County | 2.44 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 30.8% | 8.0% | 1969 | $1,388 | 47.6% | 94.5% | 4.4% |
| Knox County | 2.32 | 39.7 | 11.0% | 32.2% | 13.2% | 1963 | $945 | 20.3% | 89.9% | 3.1% |
| Pike County | 2.46 | 42.4 | 9.2% | 13.3% | 11.5% | 1971 | $835 | 15.8% | 90.2% | 4.3% |
| Daviess County | 2.91 | 36.0 | 9.0% | 27.6% | 9.0% | 1975 | $808 | 16.7% | 75.1% | 1.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Warren County, MS · Barron County, WI · Beaufort County, NC · Bedford County, PA · Beltrami County, MN · Val Verde County, TX · Washington County, IN · Cass County, MN · Warren County, VA · Warren County, TN
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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