The Town FilesMarion, Wisconsin
Town in Grant County · population 629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,200
- Household income
- $66,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.4
Marion is a town of 629 people in Grant County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $243,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 90% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Marion ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marion is worth $243,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $66,875, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $836 | $951 |
| Median household income | $66,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 7, 2021 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 17,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,501 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Marion
- Boscobel, WI5.1 mi · 3,286 people · home $147,400
- Hickory Grove, WI5.9 mi · 568 people · home $310,700
- Mount Ida, WI6.0 mi · 561 people · home $245,800
- Marietta, WI6.2 mi · 507 people · home $226,900
- Fennimore, WI7.1 mi · 2,764 people · home $161,400
- Fennimore, WI8.5 mi · 594 people · home $282,000
- Wauzeka, WI8.8 mi · 628 people · home $143,300
- North Lancaster, WI11.7 mi · 581 people · home $279,900
Marion questions
Is Marion, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 9%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $243,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,875, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 7, 2021. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)