Cost of Living in Marion County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Marion County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Marion County ranks #1,170 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 37%)
Sourced county brief
Marion County Median Home Value Estimated at $103,000
The median home value in Marion County was estimated at $103,000, which is $50,020 below the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $805, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $960. For renter households, the median gross rent in the county was $794 per month, while the Illinois unweighted county mean rent was $867. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 27.1%, which is 1.0 percentage point higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.1%. Renter-household median income in the county was recorded at $33,769. These snapshot values are based on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Marion County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.1% of renter household income in Marion County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $794 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $805. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Marion County's $794 median is 8.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Marion County
Rent Burden
15.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,429
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Marion County
Median home value is $103,000. Estimated monthly cost: $822 vs. your max of $1,429.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Marion County, Illinois?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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