The Town FilesMarion, Indiana
City in Grant County · population 28,310 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,300
- Household income
- $43,343
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 35.2
Marion is a city of 28,310 people in Grant County, Indiana. The median home is worth $85,300, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 87% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 87% of Indiana towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $85,300, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $43,343, which is more affordable than 78% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,300 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $805 | $888 |
| Median household income | $43,343 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 2.7 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 319 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 5, 1961.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 27,333 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,883 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Marion
11 public schools with 4,566 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High School | 9-12 | 1,052 | 17.2 |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall Intrmd | 5-6 | 510 | 13.8 |
| Eastbrook High School | 9-12 | 506 | 14.9 |
| John L McCulloch Junior High Sch | 7-8 | 499 | 12.8 |
| Frances Slocum Elem School | PK-4 | 462 | 15.4 |
| Allen Elementary School | PK-4 | 405 | 15.0 |
| Eastbrook Middle School | 6-8 | 388 | 15.5 |
| John W Kendall Elem School | PK-4 | 376 | 15.7 |
| Riverview Elementary School | PK-4 | 368 | 15.3 |
| Marion Early Childhood Ed Cntr | PK-PK | — | — |
| Grant Regional Career Center | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Marion
- Gas City, IN5.5 mi · 6,157 people · home $119,300
- Fairmount, IN9.2 mi · 2,682 people · home $103,200
- Upland, IN10.3 mi · 3,821 people · home $203,200
- Hartford City, IN16.5 mi · 6,086 people · home $83,400
- Wabash, IN19.6 mi · 10,440 people · home $116,500
- Alexandria, IN19.8 mi · 5,149 people · home $97,800
- Elwood, IN21.2 mi · 8,410 people · home $97,800
- Huntington, IN24.3 mi · 17,022 people · home $119,500
Marion questions
Is Marion, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 17% of Indiana towns and quieter than 16%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $85,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,343, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)