1st Advantage MortgageMarion County households have a median income of $77,351 and median rent of $1,414 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). For a Marion County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Oregon license.
On this page
- Marion County by the numbers
- The Marion County housing market in figures
- Labor force snapshot: Marion County
- Household income in Marion County
- What stands out in Marion County
- Marion County and the counties next door
- Places inside Marion County
- Borrowing situations common in Marion County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Marion County
- A Marion County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Marion County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marion County by the numbers
Marion County is home to about 349,244 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. It covers 1,181 square miles of land, or about 296 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Salem, OR metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (18 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Keizer, with about 39,082 residents, or 11% of the county.
The Marion County housing market in figures
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,414 in Marion County versus $1,525 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 54% in Marion County, 52% statewide. Home values center on $416,400, or 5.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. Against the median U.S. county, Marion County rent is 61% above.
| Marion County | Oregon | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,414/mo | $1,525/mo | 7% lower |
| Median home value | $416,400 | $477,600 | 13% lower |
| Owners | 62% | 63% | -1.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | +1.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 31% | -0.5 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Labor force snapshot: Marion County
The biggest employer of Marion County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Public administration stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Marion County. About 70% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Marion County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Marion County
Marion County households have a median income of $77,351 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 36 in Oregon.
| Households earning | Marion County | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -3.5 pts |
On the low end, 20% of Marion County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. Marion County counts about 45,520 residents below the poverty line, 13.0% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $77,351 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What stands out in Marion County
Where Marion County lands at the extremes of Oregon's county rankings:
- The housing vacancy rate: 4% in Marion County. Only 1 of 36 Oregon counties are lower. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
- On the uninsured rate, Marion County sits near the top of Oregon at 8.6%, 4th highest of 36. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- Homeownership: 62% in Marion County. Only 4 of 36 Oregon counties are lower. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- On population, Marion County sits near the top of Oregon at 349,244, 5th highest of 36. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
Marion County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Clackamas County at 26 miles out to Benton County at 50. Marion County's $77,351 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $76,329 (Linn County) to $103,517 (Clackamas County).
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $77,351 | $1,414/mo | 62% |
| Clackamas County, OR | 26 mi | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Linn County, OR | 29 mi | $76,329 | $1,320/mo | 67% |
| Polk County, OR | 40 mi | $85,118 | $1,299/mo | 65% |
| Yamhill County, OR | 43 mi | $90,063 | $1,480/mo | 69% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 45 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
| Benton County, OR | 50 mi | $77,702 | $1,410/mo | 57% |
Places inside Marion County
153,007 of Marion County's 349,244 residents live in its 25 Census places (44%); the 14 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,624 in Hayesville to $107,500 in Aurora. Rent is cheapest in Stayton ($1,172) and steepest in Aurora ($2,167). Keizer and every other Marion County community use this county guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keizer | city | 39,082 | $84,813 | $1,424 | 23 mi |
| Woodburn | city | 27,875 | $67,347 | $1,489 | 22 mi |
| Hayesville | CDP | 21,246 | $58,624 | $1,435 | 20 mi |
| Four Corners | CDP | 16,275 | $69,669 | $1,416 | 20 mi |
| Silverton | city | 10,456 | $79,960 | $1,580 | 12 mi |
| Stayton | city | 8,292 | $78,268 | $1,172 | 13 mi |
| Aumsville | city | 4,230 | $90,987 | $1,786 | 15 mi |
| Hubbard | city | 3,406 | $101,771 | $1,253 | 22 mi |
| Mount Angel | city | 3,393 | $62,232 | $1,213 | 16 mi |
| Jefferson | city | 3,301 | $102,159 | $1,328 | 25 mi |
| Sublimity | city | 2,919 | $77,969 | $1,628 | 12 mi |
| Turner | city | 2,792 | $101,979 | $1,380 | 19 mi |
| Gervais | city | 2,581 | $83,043 | $1,893 | 21 mi |
| Mill City | city | 1,920 | $69,091 | $1,402 | 11 mi |
Borrowing situations common in Marion County
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Marion County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Age, degrees and coverage in Marion County
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Marion County | Difference from Oregon | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | -10.8 pts | +3.9 pts |
| Work from home | 12.7% | -6.3 pts | +4.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.9% | +5.8 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 37.5 | -2.9 yrs | -4.0 yrs |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | +2.7 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | +1.1 pts | -0.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | -0.9 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 0.0 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
A Marion County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marion County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,446 before taxes
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,414)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,321 total minus rent leaves $907
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,358 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Marion County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Marion County
Consumer lenders serving Marion County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oregon that is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Marion County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marion County?
$77,351 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,011 for Oregon. It ranks 11th of 36 in the state.
Can a Marion County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,414 median rent and $6,446 median monthly income, rent alone uses 22%; add other debts before a new payment.
Does this page cover Keizer?
Yes, along with the other 24 Census places in Marion County, such as Woodburn, Hayesville, Four Corners.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Marion County or elsewhere in Oregon, the same rules apply.
What agency protects Marion County borrowers?
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.