Population 55,909 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Marion County
Household size in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Marion County is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 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, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Marion County are younger than 41.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in West Virginia overall, where the median age is 43.2. The median age has climbed from 40.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of West Virginia's 55 counties, only four are younger.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Marion County (8.6%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Marion County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (49.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.6 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Marion County: 11.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Even so, the rate is lower than in West Virginia overall (14.9%).
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Marion County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest. Few West Virginia counties have older homes: only five of 55.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $583 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $690 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $805 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $955 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$372 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Marion County runs $955 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in West Virginia overall ($905). Rent has climbed $372 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 27.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.8% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Marion County (27.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.7 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Marion County have finished high school (92.9%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few West Virginia counties have a higher share of high school graduates: only four of 55.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Marion County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than 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 | 2.35 | 41.6 | 8.6% | 23.3% | 11.4% | 1964 | $955 | 27.8% | 92.9% | 5.1% |
| Taylor County | 2.51 | 42.4 | 15.0% | 16.1% | 12.9% | 1973 | $823 | 21.3% | 88.7% | 6.5% |
| Preston County | 2.42 | 44.5 | 7.8% | 18.5% | 12.9% | 1984 | $846 | 18.3% | 86.4% | 4.5% |
| Tyler County | 2.51 | 46.5 | 6.6% | 15.9% | 20.2% | 1967 | $737 | 15.4% | 90.8% | 6.9% |
| Garrett County | 2.27 | 46.3 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 20.7% | 1980 | $827 | 24.9% | 90.1% | 4.8% |
| Pleasants County | 2.58 | 43.5 | 10.1% | 18.6% | 13.9% | 1979 | $686 | 14.5% | 89.9% | 9.5% |
| Mineral County | 2.38 | 44.2 | 10.1% | 19.0% | 11.8% | 1978 | $817 | 23.4% | 94.1% | 6.0% |
| Washington County | 2.37 | 44.6 | 11.1% | 24.6% | 11.2% | 1970 | $854 | 22.2% | 93.9% | 4.8% |
| Hampshire County | 2.80 | 45.8 | 11.9% | 17.3% | 31.8% | 1986 | $816 | 19.6% | 88.9% | 8.6% |
| Athens County | 2.41 | 37.2 | 7.0% | 39.6% | 13.9% | 1975 | $1,004 | 35.7% | 91.8% | 6.8% |
| Morgan County | 2.36 | 49.3 | 9.8% | 15.9% | 18.8% | 1986 | $876 | 18.2% | 88.9% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Barry County, MI · Vernon Parish, LA · Venango County, PA · Bradford County, PA · Box Elder County, UT · Boone County, IL · Washington County, VA · Blount County, AL · Belknap County, NH · Bedford 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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