The Town FilesMarion, South Carolina
City in Marion County · population 6,448 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,300
- Household income
- $30,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 43.9
Marion is a city of 6,448 people in Marion County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $137,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 76% of South Carolina towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $137,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $30,662, which is more affordable than 20% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $651 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $651 | $937 |
| Median household income | $30,662 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 49.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 10, 1982 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 14, 2006.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 7,064 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,706 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Marion
5 public schools with 2,274 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion High | 9-12 | 597 | 16.1 |
| Johnakin Middle | 6-8 | 461 | 17.1 |
| Easterling Primary | PK-2 | 453 | 18.1 |
| Marion Intermediate | 3-5 | 418 | 23.2 |
| Creek Bridge STEM Academy | PK-8 | 345 | 16.4 |
Towns near Marion
- Mullins, SC8.2 mi · 4,026 people · home $95,300
- Dillon, SC17.1 mi · 6,384 people · home $115,500
- Florence, SC22.7 mi · 39,899 people · home $211,400
- Darlington, SC28.2 mi · 6,149 people · home $172,300
- Lake City, SC29.7 mi · 5,903 people · home $144,300
- Tabor City, NC29.9 mi · 3,781 people · home $115,900
Marion questions
Is Marion, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 39% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $137,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,662, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $651 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 10, 1982. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- 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)