The Town FilesMarion, Montana
Community in Flathead County · population 1,119 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,500
- Household income
- $65,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 49.0
Marion is a community of 1,119 people in Flathead County, Montana. The median home is worth $431,500, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for families than 90% of Montana towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Montana towns, quieter than 85% of Montana towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $431,500, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $65,250, which is more affordable than 18% of Montana towns. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,500 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | — | $893 |
| Median household income | $65,250 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 27.3% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 86.6% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 16.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.4 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 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 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2020.
Severe weather in Flathead County since 1996
Flathead County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 16, 2022 | Flood | DR-4655: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Flathead County
Flathead County had 50,611 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,339 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Marion
3 public schools with 187 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion School | PK-6 | 141 | 15.7 |
| Marion 7-8 | 7-8 | 37 | 12.3 |
| Pleasant Valley School | PK-8 | 9 | 9.0 |
Towns near Marion
- Kalispell, MT18.5 mi · 24,558 people · home $428,000
- Somers, MT20.7 mi · 1,049 people · home $465,400
- Evergreen, MT21.2 mi · 8,149 people · home $340,800
- Lakeside, MT21.2 mi · 2,705 people · home $720,100
- Helena Flats, MT24.4 mi · 1,206 people · home $582,400
- Whitefish, MT28.7 mi · 7,751 people · home $684,300
- Woods Bay, MT28.7 mi · 676 people · home $512,200
- Bigfork, MT28.8 mi · 5,118 people · home $674,600
Marion questions
Is Marion, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 38% of Montana towns and quieter than 85%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.0).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $431,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,250, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.4 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)