1st Advantage MortgageMarion County households have a median income of $62,903 and median rent of $808 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Marion County
- Marion County housing compared with Missouri
- What Marion County households earn
- How Marion County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Marion County
- Counties near Marion County
- Marion County households compared
- Reading the Marion County data as a borrower
- What a median Marion County budget can carry
- Checklist for Marion County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Marion County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Marion County
Marion County is home to about 28,457 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 437 square miles of land, or about 65 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Marion County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Palmyra is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 3,623 people (13% of the county total).
Marion County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Marion County rental runs $808 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,000, about 2.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Marion County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $808/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,000 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
What Marion County households earn
The median household income in Marion County is $62,903; statewide it is $70,702, so Marion County runs 11% below Missouri as a whole. That places it 43rd among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Marion County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Marion County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.416 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.
How Marion County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 11% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Marion County. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Marion County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.7 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
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Marion County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 6,870 people, so roughly 76% of residents live outside any named place. No Marion County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | city | 3,623 | $69,922 | $843 | 6 mi |
| Monroe City | city | 3,028 | $55,737 | $668 | 12 mi |
| Philadelphia | CDP | 219 | $51,375 | n/a | 6 mi |
Counties near Marion County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Adams County leads the group on income ($66,220), Shelby County trails ($51,594), and Marion County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Marion County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $62,903 | $808/mo | 69% |
| Ralls County, MO | 19 mi | $65,388 | $749/mo | 86% |
| Lewis County, MO | 20 mi | $59,934 | $644/mo | 76% |
| Shelby County, MO | 24 mi | $51,594 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Adams County, IL | 26 mi | $66,220 | $828/mo | 72% |
| Monroe County, MO | 29 mi | $54,516 | $689/mo | 74% |
| Knox County, MO | 35 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
Marion County households compared
25% of Marion County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.9%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Indicator | Marion County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Reading the Marion County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Marion County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Marion County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Marion County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Marion County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marion County's medians:
- Start: $5,242 gross per month ($62,903 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $808 uses 15%
- Under a 35% cap, $1,835 total minus rent leaves $1,027
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,551 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $808, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for Marion County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Marion County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Marion County
Marion County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Marion County household make?
About $62,903 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the Missouri median.
Is Marion County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $808 against $1,033 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Palmyra?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Marion County, such as Monroe City, Philadelphia.
Are Marion County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Marion County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.