Cost of Living in Marion County, Iowa
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 #1,991 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 37%)
Sourced county brief
Marion County Median Home Value Estimated at $233,000
Marion County’s median home value was estimated at $233,000, which is $61,963 above the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. For households in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,070, or $120 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median gross rent for renter-occupied units was $884 per month, which is $52 above the state unweighted county mean of $832. Renter households in the county had a median income of $48,680. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct was 25.8%, which is 0.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 25.4%. The canonical rentToIncomePct of 25.8% is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renters. See ACS table B25071 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 25.8% 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 $884 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,070. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,360 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 Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. Marion County's $884 median is 6.2% above 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
13.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,836
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
The median home in Marion County may be a stretch
Median home value is $233,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,860 vs. your max of $1,836.
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, Iowa?
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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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