The Town FilesMarion, Mississippi
Town in Lauderdale County · population 1,751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,800
- Household income
- $46,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 27.1
Marion is a town of 1,751 people in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $193,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 91% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 72% of Mississippi towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $193,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $46,500, which is more affordable than 7% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,057 a month. 52.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,057 | $820 |
| Median household income | $46,500 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.0% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 39.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 83.3% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 36.4°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 12, 1986 about 6.3 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 55 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 3, 1984.
Severe weather in Lauderdale County since 1996
Lauderdale County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County had 31,040 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,153 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Towns near Marion
- Meridian, MS3.9 mi · 35,052 people · home $107,900
- Nellieburg, MS7.8 mi · 1,316 people · home $137,500
- Toomsuba, MS8.4 mi · 778 people · home $224,600
- Meridian Station, MS8.6 mi · 581 people · home —
- Collinsville, MS11.9 mi · 1,984 people · home $170,800
- York, AL21.6 mi · 2,414 people · home $80,100
- Stonewall, MS22.1 mi · 879 people · home $45,400
- De Kalb, MS23.7 mi · 877 people · home $75,800
Marion questions
Is Marion, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 93% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 48%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.1).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $193,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,500, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,057 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 36.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 12, 1986. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)