The Town FilesMarion, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 1,657 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,600
- Household income
- $99,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 100 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 56.6
Marion is a township of 1,657 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $271,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Michigan towns, better for families than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $271,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $99,417, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 96.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $955 |
| Median household income | $99,417 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 100.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Marion since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Marion
- Charlevoix, MI4.3 mi · 1,763 people · home $307,000
- Charlevoix, MI4.4 mi · 2,348 people · home $331,500
- Norwood, MI4.5 mi · 700 people · home $320,800
- Eveline, MI5.1 mi · 1,515 people · home $459,100
- Banks, MI6.1 mi · 1,588 people · home $248,800
- Hayes, MI7.7 mi · 2,000 people · home $247,000
- South Arm, MI7.8 mi · 1,939 people · home $262,400
- East Jordan, MI9.5 mi · 2,239 people · home $148,000
Marion questions
Is Marion, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.6).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $271,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,417, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 100.2 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Marion in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)