1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Marion County is $884 a month against a median household income of $78,680, about 13% of income (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Marion County, and confirm each one's Iowa license.
On this page
- Marion County in brief
- Where Marion County differs from the rest of Iowa
- Employment and commuting in Marion County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Marion County
- Paychecks and income spread in Marion County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Places inside Marion County
- A Marion County household budget, worked through
- Marion County demographics against Iowa
- Before borrowing in Marion County
- Iowa rules that apply in Marion County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marion County in brief
Marion County is home to about 33,642 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 21st most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Density: about 60.7 residents per square mile across 554 square miles of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Marion County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Pella, with about 10,720 residents, or 32% of the county.
Where Marion County differs from the rest of Iowa
Out of every Iowa county, Marion County is most unusual on these measures.
- The uninsured rate: 2.5% in Marion County. Only 3 of 99 Iowa counties are lower. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
- Few Iowa counties match Marion County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 32% here, 31% for the state, ranking 11th highest of 99. More graduates often means more student debt to factor in.
- Median home value: $233,000 in Marion County. Only 11 of 99 Iowa counties are higher. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
- Marion County ranks 15th highest of 99 Iowa counties for the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 38%, against 36% statewide. Big incomes invite big loans; borrow only what you need.
Employment and commuting in Marion County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Marion County residents work in education and health care and 24% in manufacturing. Relative to Iowa (15%), manufacturing is 9 points bigger in Marion County (24%). 2.2% of Marion County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Marion County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 23.5% | +8.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.7 pts |
Self-employed in Marion County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Rent, home values and ownership in Marion County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $884 in Marion County versus $972 statewide. About 4 in 10 Marion County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,000, about 3.0 times the median household income. 78% of Marion County households own their home and 22% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1975. Against the median U.S. county, Marion County rent is about level with.
| Home costs | Marion County | Iowa | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $884/mo | $972/mo | 9% lower |
| Median home value | $233,000 | $208,000 | 12% higher |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | +6.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 44% | -5.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | -1.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 5.0% | 3.2% | +1.8 pts |
Because most Marion County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Paychecks and income spread in Marion County
The median household income in Marion County is $78,680; statewide it is $75,059, so Marion County runs 5% above Iowa as a whole. In the state ranking that is 15th of 99.
| Income band | Share in Marion County | Difference from Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.4% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -0.1 pts |
On the low end, 21% of Marion County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. 8.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. None of these numbers decides a Marion County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 35 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Marion County; Warren County is highest at $94,588 and Lucas County lowest at $61,793.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $78,680 | $884/mo | 78% |
| Mahaska County, IA | 24 mi | $70,940 | $793/mo | 68% |
| Monroe County, IA | 24 mi | $70,996 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Lucas County, IA | 24 mi | $61,793 | $709/mo | 79% |
| Jasper County, IA | 25 mi | $71,311 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Warren County, IA | 25 mi | $94,588 | $973/mo | 82% |
| Polk County, IA | 35 mi | $83,576 | $1,149/mo | 67% |
Places inside Marion County
22,088 of Marion County's 33,642 residents live in its 9 Census places (66%); the 9 largest are listed. Pella ($84,111) and Melcher-Dallas ($58,611) mark the top and bottom of Marion County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $789 in Melcher-Dallas to $1,046 in Pella. From Pella to the smallest crossroads, Marion County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pella | city | 10,720 | $84,111 | $1,046 | 10 mi |
| Knoxville | city | 7,473 | $61,599 | $801 | 1 mi |
| Pleasantville | city | 1,899 | $67,614 | $866 | 10 mi |
| Melcher-Dallas | city | 1,176 | $58,611 | $789 | 11 mi |
| Bussey | city | 414 | $43,125 | $584 | 14 mi |
| Harvey | city | 174 | $52,250 | $792 | 9 mi |
| Hamilton | city | 107 | $63,750 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Marysville | city | 70 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Swan | city | 55 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
A Marion County household budget, worked through
Marion County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,557 before taxes
- Less median rent of $884, which is 13% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,476 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,935 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Marion County demographics against Iowa
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. Uninsured, Marion County: 2.5%; Iowa: 5.0%.
| People and households | Marion County | Compared with Iowa | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | +1.3 yrs | -1.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.1% | +0.7 pts | +10.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | -1.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | -2.5 pts | -5.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | -2.0 pts | -2.0 pts |
| Work from home | 10.2% | -1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | -2.9 pts | -5.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | -1.4 pts | -2.2 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Before borrowing in Marion County
Based on the Marion County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Iowa rules that apply in Marion County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Marion County, check the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Marion County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Marion County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marion County?
$78,680 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,059 for Iowa. It ranks 15th of 99 in the state.
Is Marion County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $884 against $972 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Can Marion County owners borrow against a $233,000 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
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 Pella, Knoxville, Pleasantville, Melcher-Dallas, Bussey and 4 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Marion County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.