1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Marion County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,240. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- First look: Marion County, IL
- The Marion County housing market in figures
- Marion County at the extremes
- Work, industries and travel time in Marion County
- The $61,240 median and what sits around it
- Marion County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Marion County
- A Marion County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Marion County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Marion County
- Checklist for Marion County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Marion County
- Other Illinois guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Marion County, IL
With an estimated 37,000 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Marion County ranks 36th of 102 in Illinois for population. Marion County spans 573 square miles; with 37,000 people, that is 64.6 per square mile. Metro status: none; Marion County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Centralia (11,856 people) heads the county's list of 15 Census places, 15 incorporated and 0 census-designated.
The Marion County housing market in figures
Renters in Marion County pay a median of $794 a month, 38% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. With a median value of $103,000, a typical Marion County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 75%, renters 25%. Median construction year: 1973.
| Housing | Marion County | Illinois statewide | Marion County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $794/mo | $1,274/mo | 38% lower |
| Median home value | $103,000 | $263,300 | 61% lower |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | +7.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | -5.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 27% | -5.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 16.9% | 2.3% | +14.7 pts |
Marion County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Marion County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 101 county-level areas in Illinois, these are the Marion County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the share of mobile homes, Marion County sits near the top of Illinois at 16.9%, 11th highest of 102. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
- On the share of workers who work from home, Marion County sits near the bottom of Illinois at 4.8%, 14th lowest of 102. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- On the share of households earning $100,000 or more, Marion County sits near the bottom of Illinois at 25%, 13th lowest of 102. Few six-figure households means smaller loans are the norm.
- Few Illinois counties match Marion County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 17% here, 38% for the state, ranking 14th lowest of 102. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Work, industries and travel time in Marion County
The biggest employer of Marion County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Marion County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Other services | 4.6% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The $61,240 median and what sits around it
Median household income in Marion County: $61,240 (27% below Illinois, $83,390). Only 77 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Marion County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +10.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -9.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Marion County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.8%. Marion County scores 0.434 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Marion County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Marion County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Marion County's, from 24 to 32 miles away. Richest neighbor: Clinton County, $86,588. Poorest: Wayne County, $55,521. Marion County: $61,240.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $61,240 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Jefferson County, IL | 24 mi | $63,118 | $885/mo | 72% |
| Clay County, IL | 25 mi | $60,417 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Fayette County, IL | 25 mi | $60,944 | $798/mo | 81% |
| Clinton County, IL | 27 mi | $86,588 | $912/mo | 80% |
| Wayne County, IL | 30 mi | $55,521 | $657/mo | 78% |
| Bond County, IL | 32 mi | $65,959 | $785/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Marion County
15 Census places fall mainly inside Marion County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 26,622 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,500 in Wamac to $61,146 in Iuka. This guide covers each of the 15 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | city | 11,856 | $47,807 | $765 | 14 mi |
| Salem | city | 7,236 | $59,728 | $774 | 3 mi |
| Central City | village | 1,081 | $44,896 | $840 | 13 mi |
| Sandoval | village | 1,004 | $52,841 | $682 | 11 mi |
| Odin | village | 972 | $46,131 | $682 | 8 mi |
| Wamac | city | 804 | $36,500 | $787 | 16 mi |
| Kinmundy | city | 803 | $42,303 | $696 | 9 mi |
| Junction City | village | 638 | $56,364 | $878 | 12 mi |
| Farina | village | 570 | $46,146 | $777 | 15 mi |
| Iuka | village | 534 | $61,146 | $581 | 7 mi |
| Patoka | village | 498 | $65,833 | $831 | 12 mi |
| Alma | village | 285 | $67,500 | $534 | 5 mi |
| Kell | village | 145 | $67,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Walnut Hill | village | 127 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A Marion County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Marion County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,103 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $794, takes 16% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,247 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Marion County
Where the Marion County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 17% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Marion County borrower sees (free reports).
- Consolidating cards in Marion County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Age, degrees and coverage in Marion County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17% of Marion County adults. Health coverage gaps: 6.4% of Marion County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Marion County | Gap to Illinois | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | -21.1 pts | -5.4 pts |
| Work from home | 4.8% | -11.0 pts | -3.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | -4.0 pts | +1.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | +3.6 pts | +2.2 pts |
| Median age | 41.5 | +2.5 yrs | +0.0 yrs |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | -0.5 pts | -1.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | -0.3 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 0.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Checklist for Marion County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Marion County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Marion County
Consumer lenders serving Marion County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB.
Other Illinois guides
Next step up from Marion County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Marion County earn?
The median is $61,240; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Marion County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $794 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Vernon covered?
Yes. Vernon is one of 15 Census places in Marion County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Marion County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Marion County?
Look it up with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.