1st Advantage MortgageIn Marion County, Kansas, the typical household earns $64,695 a year and the typical rent is $727. 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
- Who lives in Marion County
- What Marion County households earn
- Renting and owning in Marion County
- The Marion County job picture
- Towns and communities in Marion County
- How Marion County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Marion County budget can carry
- Marion County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Marion County
- Steps before you apply in Marion County
- Licensing and complaints for Marion County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Marion County
With an estimated 11,754 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Marion County ranks 37th of 105 in Kansas for population. Land area is 944 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 14 Census places inside Marion County, Hillsboro leads by population with about 2,700; 12 of the 14 are incorporated.
What Marion County households earn
The median household income in Marion County is $64,695; statewide it is $74,275, so Marion County runs 13% below Kansas as a whole. Only 48 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Marion County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.7% | +9.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -4.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Marion County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Marion County
Renters in Marion County pay a median of $727 a month, 31% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. By the Census definition, 37% of Marion County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,200, about 1.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 81%. Half the housing stock was built before 1957.
| Housing | Marion County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $727/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,200 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Marion County job picture
The biggest employer of Marion County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 31% locally and 25% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 3.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Marion County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.0% | +6.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +4.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | +0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Towns and communities in Marion County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Marion County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 7,882 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Hillsboro has the highest median household income on the list ($63,462) and Florence the lowest ($30,313), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Marion ($636) and steepest in Goessel ($850). None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | city | 2,700 | $63,462 | $763 | 5 mi |
| Marion | city | 1,746 | $58,387 | $636 | 5 mi |
| Peabody | city | 1,196 | $54,653 | $733 | 13 mi |
| Goessel | city | 600 | $50,417 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Florence | city | 522 | $30,313 | $832 | 12 mi |
| Burns | city | 297 | $42,292 | $754 | 22 mi |
| Tampa | city | 201 | $66,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Lehigh | city | 182 | $78,542 | $1,031 | 11 mi |
| Lincolnville | city | 181 | $55,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Durham | city | 83 | $70,313 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Ramona | city | 76 | $87,500 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Pilsen | CDP | 51 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Lost Springs | city | 27 | $43,438 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Eastshore | CDP | 20 | $56,103 | n/a | 3 mi |
How Marion County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 28 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Marion County; McPherson County is highest at $78,851 and Chase County lowest at $56,484.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $64,695 | $727/mo | 81% |
| Chase County, KS | 28 mi | $56,484 | $825/mo | 73% |
| Harvey County, KS | 28 mi | $74,368 | $900/mo | 70% |
| McPherson County, KS | 30 mi | $78,851 | $916/mo | 75% |
| Morris County, KS | 33 mi | $58,686 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Dickinson County, KS | 35 mi | $68,417 | $901/mo | 79% |
| Saline County, KS | 42 mi | $65,422 | $961/mo | 67% |
What a median Marion County budget can carry
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.
- Monthly gross at the median, Marion County: $5,391
- Less median rent of $727, which is 13% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,214 left for all other debt payments
- $1,591: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Marion County households compared
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Marion County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.4% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Marion County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marion County
What the Marion County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Steps before you apply in Marion County
Steps that save money for Marion County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Marion County-area credit union.
- A Kansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Marion County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Marion County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Related local guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marion County?
$64,695 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 49th of 105 in the state.
Is Marion County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $727 against $1,060 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Marion County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
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 Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody, Goessel, Florence and 9 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Marion County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.