The Town FilesMarion, Alabama
City in Perry County · population 3,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,700
- Household income
- $35,842
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 34.2
Marion is a city of 3,176 people in Perry County, Alabama. The median home is worth $108,700, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Alabama towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Alabama towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $108,700, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $35,842, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 60.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $588 | $834 |
| Median household income | $35,842 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | — min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 11, 1961 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 14, 2023.
Severe weather in Perry County since 1996
Perry County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Perry County
Perry County had 1,826 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,082 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Marion
2 public schools with 803 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Marion School | PK-12 | 464 | 17.8 |
| Breakthrough Charter School (charter) | PK-10 | 339 | 17.0 |
Towns near Marion
- Valley Grande, AL19.4 mi · 4,190 people · home $133,100
- Selma, AL22.1 mi · 17,971 people · home $96,500
- Brent, AL23.2 mi · 2,972 people · home $146,500
- Centreville, AL25.0 mi · 2,800 people · home $161,300
Marion questions
Is Marion, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 85% of Alabama towns and quieter than 18%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $108,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,842, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 11, 1961. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)