The Town FilesMarion, Wisconsin
City in Waupaca County · population 1,324 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $104,200
- Household income
- $60,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 36.5
Marion is a city of 1,324 people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $104,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 72% 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 $104,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $60,521, which is more affordable than 99% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $754 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marion | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $754 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,521 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Marion
| People | Marion | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Marion
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 7.3°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 27, 1984 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2010.
Severe weather in Waupaca County since 1996
Waupaca County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Waupaca County
Waupaca County had 18,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Marion
2 public schools with 452 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Elementary | PK-6 | 236 | 11.8 |
| Marion High | 7-12 | 216 | 12.7 |
Towns near Marion
- Dupont, WI3.2 mi · 746 people · home $232,400
- Grant, WI3.7 mi · 976 people · home $208,000
- Larrabee, WI5.5 mi · 1,286 people · home $176,400
- Pella, WI6.6 mi · 899 people · home $183,900
- Fairbanks, WI7.6 mi · 538 people · home $168,800
- Clintonville, WI8.3 mi · 4,591 people · home $112,000
- Tigerton, WI8.3 mi · 708 people · home $124,100
- Union, WI8.9 mi · 778 people · home $280,600
Marion questions
Is Marion, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 20% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 52%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Marion?
The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $104,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,521, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $754 a month.
What is the weather like in Marion?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 7.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Marion get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 27, 1984. 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)