1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of Marion County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,010. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Marion County
- Paychecks and income spread in Marion County
- Housing costs in Marion County
- Employment and commuting in Marion County
- Marion County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Marion County
- Budget math at the Marion County median
- What the numbers mean for Marion County borrowers
- Who lives in Marion County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Marion County
- Florida rules that apply in Marion County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Marion County
With an estimated 400,078 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Marion County ranks 18th of 67 in Florida for population. It covers 1,588 square miles of land, or about 252 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Ocala, FL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 16 Census places inside Marion County, Ocala leads by population with about 66,584; 5 of the 16 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Marion County
Marion County households have a median income of $61,010 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 46th of 67 in Florida.
| Band | Marion County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -6.0 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.4% of Marion County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Marion County median.
Housing costs in Marion County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,277 in Marion County versus $1,669 statewide. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $243,100, a typical Marion County house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. The median year built is 1993.
| Marion County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,277/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,100 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.2% | 8.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Marion County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Employment and commuting in Marion County
The biggest employer of Marion County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 12% for Florida. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Marion County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.1% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.5% | -1.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Marion County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Marion County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Putnam County at 33 miles out to Levy County at 48. Income ranges from $47,934 in Putnam County to $76,508 in Sumter County; 3 of these neighbors top Marion County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $61,010 | $1,277/mo | 77% |
| Putnam County, FL | 33 mi | $47,934 | $906/mo | 75% |
| Sumter County, FL | 34 mi | $76,508 | $1,269/mo | 88% |
| Lake County, FL | 36 mi | $73,161 | $1,586/mo | 78% |
| Alachua County, FL | 38 mi | $61,949 | $1,339/mo | 54% |
| Citrus County, FL | 41 mi | $56,546 | $1,107/mo | 85% |
| Levy County, FL | 48 mi | $56,750 | $850/mo | 81% |
Towns and communities in Marion County
16 Census places fall mainly inside Marion County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 186,530 residents, leaving about 53% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,074 in Silver Springs to $72,392 in Marion Oaks. No Marion County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 16.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala | city | 66,584 | $56,376 | $1,359 | 7 mi |
| Silver Springs Shores | CDP | 28,537 | $63,611 | $1,430 | 7 mi |
| Liberty Triangle | CDP | 24,888 | $64,943 | $1,711 | 14 mi |
| Marion Oaks | CDP | 23,972 | $72,392 | $1,658 | 17 mi |
| On Top of the World | CDP | 16,007 | $60,670 | $1,212 | 16 mi |
| Rainbow Springs | CDP | 6,082 | $57,161 | $1,112 | 25 mi |
| Belleview | city | 5,805 | $57,813 | $1,257 | 10 mi |
| Silver Springs | CDP | 2,712 | $32,074 | $1,176 | 1 mi |
| Dunnellon | city | 2,216 | $40,545 | $765 | 25 mi |
| Rainbow Park | CDP | 2,056 | $66,550 | $1,443 | 20 mi |
| Silver Springs Shores East | CDP | 1,777 | $59,861 | $1,692 | 14 mi |
| Ocala Estates | CDP | 1,705 | n/a | $818 | 16 mi |
| Lake Kerr | CDP | 1,697 | $42,411 | $525 | 18 mi |
| Ocklawaha | CDP | 1,586 | $37,894 | $1,542 | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Marion County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marion County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,084 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,277 uses 25%
- $553: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,186 total minus rent leaves $909
If your rent is above $1,277, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Marion County borrowers
Based on the Marion County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Marion County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Marion County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who lives in Marion County, in numbers
23% of Marion County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Marion County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Steps before you apply in Marion County
Quick steps for Marion County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Florida borrowers.
- Ask a Marion County credit union about member loans.
Florida rules that apply in Marion County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Marion County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marion County a high-income county?
Its $61,010 median ranks 46th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Marion County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,277 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Marion County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Marion County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Marion County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ocala, Silver Springs Shores, Liberty Triangle, Marion Oaks, On Top of the World and 11 more.
Can Marion County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Florida county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.