Places › Indiana › Marion

Living in Marion, IN

Small city in Indiana

Marion is a small city in Indiana, home to about 27,000 people, with 296,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Marion a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $143k and rents for $1,260 a month
  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Mild summers: highs around 82°F
  • Low natural disaster risk: 8 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer graduates: 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Smaller job market: about 296,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Marion ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
27,000
296,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
36°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 25″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$143k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,260/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
90
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,275
State income tax per resident · 0.83% property tax
Safety
1.0× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
8 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Below average
Tests below US average · 16 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
17%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
IND
66 mi away

Living in Marion: common questions

What is the cost of living in Marion?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $143k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,260 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 90, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Marion?

Indiana collects about $1,275 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.83% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Marion safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.0× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Marion?

Public schools in Marion test below the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 16 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Marion?

Marion has cold winters: winter days average around 36°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 25″ of snow a year.

Does Marion get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.59 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Marion?

The nearest major airport is IND, about 66 mi away.

How Marion scores

Each bar compares Marion with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietSuburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundSome transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingVery affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceRelaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunitySome community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingExcellent
💸Low taxesGood
💼Job marketPoor
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsBelow average
🎓EducationPoor
🧸Kids & familyBelow average
🐕Dog-friendlyGood
⛰️OutdoorsBelow average
🎭CulturePoor
👮SafetySafe
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportAverage

Places like Marion

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Marion, OHSmall city48 $175k$1,280/moNo crime data Warren, OHSmall city46 $126k$1,270/moSafe Anderson, INSmall city46 $156k$1,590/moModerate crime Lima, OHSmall city42 $161k$1,340/moHigher crime Battle Creek, MISmall city48 $201k$1,410/moHigher crime Waterloo, IASmall city47 $171k$1,360/moSafe

Nearby

Kokomo, INSmall city · 25 mi away48 $186k$1,390/moModerate crime Muncie, INSmall city · 28 mi away45 $167k$1,350/moNo crime data Anderson, INSmall city · 32 mi away46 $156k$1,590/moModerate crime Noblesville, INSuburb · 40 mi away65 $332k$1,910/moVery safe Fishers, INSuburb · 44 mi away68 $375k$1,910/moVery safe Westfield, INSuburb · 44 mi away70 $412k$1,910/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in Indiana.

Is Marion right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.