The Town Files

Marion, Wisconsin

Town in Waushara County · population 2,020 (2020 Census)

Map: where Marion is in WisconsinMarion
Median home
$269,300
Household income
$83,807
Jan low / Jul high
8° / 81°
Snow a year
46 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
15
Median age
61.4

Marion is a town of 2,020 people in Waushara County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $269,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 77% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 71% 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.

Marion lifestyle rankings vs other Wisconsin townsRetirement71st pctFamilies55th pctQuiet96th pctWalkability12th pctFirst-time buyers44th pctYoung professionals2nd pctVibrancy47th pctHip & trendy18th pctCollege town14th pctUpscale18th pctVacation homes77th pctSeaside characterbottomCycling53rd pctTransit34th pctDriving62nd pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Marion is worth $269,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $83,807, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $933 a month. 95.9% of households own their home.

Marion vs Waushara County vs typical Wisconsin townMarionWaushara CountyTypical Wisconsin townHome value$269,300$203,100$256,000Household income$83,807$67,107$82,217Monthly rent$933$796$951
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Wisconsin towns with 500+ people.
HousingMarionTypical Wisconsin town
Median home value$269,300$256,000
Median rent$933$951
Median household income$83,807$82,217
Home value ÷ income3.2×3.1×
Homeownership95.9%86.8%
Median year built19831978
Seasonal / vacation homes32.9%—

Who lives in Marion

PeopleMarionTypical Wisconsin town
Median age61.445.1
Age 65 and over39.4%21.0%
Under 1812.2%—
Bachelor's degree or higher24.0%23.8%
Below the poverty line6.3%7.2%
Veterans9.9%—
Born outside the U.S.0.8%—
Work from home9.9%10.9%
Average commute31.5 min24.6 min
Homes with broadband87.6%89.1%

Weather in Marion

July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.

Marion monthly temperatures and precipitation0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing25°8°Jan30°11°Feb41°21°Mar55°33°Apr67°46°May77°56°Jun81°60°Jul80°58°Aug72°49°Sep58°38°Oct43°26°Nov31°15°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue1.410.91.313.32.85.93.63.04.24.24.53.63.52.70.42.01.91.411.0
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Berlin Wwtp station (11.9 mi away); snow from Wautoma-Silver Lake San Dist (3.6 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

15 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 August 29, 1992 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Marion by decade31950s11960s01970s31980s31990s22000s12010s22020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 22, 2011.

Severe weather in Waushara County since 1996

Storm events in Waushara County since 1996 by typeHail66Flood7Drought13Tornado14Dense Fog8Heavy Snow34Strong Wind16Winter Storm44
NOAA Storm Events Database, Waushara County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 1 deaths recorded.

Waushara County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 4, 2020BiologicalDR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3454: Covid-19
September 13, 2005HurricaneEM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
June 18, 2004Severe StormDR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 19, 2002Severe StormDR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding

Jobs and pay in Waushara County

Waushara County had 5,903 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,716 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Marion itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.

Largest industries in Waushara CountyManufacturing841 jobs · $51,337Retail699 jobs · $29,967Hotels & restaurants570 jobs · $17,609Agriculture, forestry & fishi…418 jobs · $42,618Construction209 jobs · $48,865Wholesale trade193 jobs · $65,024
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Waushara County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023Waushara 3.5%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Towns near Marion

Marion questions

Is Marion, Wisconsin a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marion scores better for retirees than 71% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 96%. 39.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.4).

How much does a house cost in Marion?

The median owner-occupied home in Marion is valued at $269,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,807, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $933 a month.

What is the weather like in Marion?

July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.4 inches of snow.

Does Marion get tornadoes?

15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 29, 1992. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Marion's Census boundary (GEOID 5513749425). Comparisons use the median of Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.