1st Advantage MortgageMarion County households have a median income of $49,672 and median rent of $911 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Marion County offer.
On this page
- 9,737 residents: Marion County basics
- What stands out in Marion County
- The Marion County job picture
- How much Marion County households make
- The Marion County housing market in figures
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Marion County
- The counties around Marion County
- Local borrowing considerations for Marion County
- More Marion County figures
- A Marion County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Marion County
- Before you sign
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
9,737 residents: Marion County basics
Roughly 9,737 residents live in Marion County, Texas, 166th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 381 square miles of land, or about 26 people per square mile. Metro status: none; Marion County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Jefferson, with about 2,131 residents, or 22% of the county. At 9,737 people, Marion County is a small survey sample, so small differences in these figures may be noise.
What stands out in Marion County
Ranked against the other 248 county-level areas in Texas, these are the Marion County figures furthest from the middle.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 56% in Marion County. Only 17 of 249 Texas counties are higher. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Marion County ranks 15th highest of 254 Texas counties for median age: 51.3, against 35.6 statewide. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- Few Texas counties match Marion County on the share of mobile homes: 27.4% here, 6.4% for the state, ranking 17th highest of 254. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
The Marion County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Relative to Texas (2%), wholesale trade is 5 points bigger in Marion County (8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.7% in Marion County. 20% of Marion County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 28% need 45 or more.
| Sector | Marion County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.7% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 7.7% | +5.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Marion County households make
At $49,672, the typical Marion County household income is 24% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Marion County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.4% | +16.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -7.8 pts |
On the low end, 37% of Marion County households report under $35,000; at the top, 24% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 18.3% of Marion County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.474 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Marion County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Marion County housing market in figures
$911 a month is the median gross rent in Marion County, 35% below the state. By the Census definition, 56% of Marion County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $101,500, or 2.0 years of median income. 78% of Marion County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1981.
| Home costs | Marion County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 27.4% | 6.4% | +20.9 pts |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | +15.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 25% | 9% | +15.8 pts |
| Median home value | $101,500 | $283,800 | 64% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | +4.1 pts |
| Median gross rent | $911/mo | $1,403/mo | 35% lower |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | +1.1 pts |
At a $101,500 median value, many Marion County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Marion County
Places, by size: the top 2 of 2. Roughly 72% of Marion County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | city | 2,131 | $41,500 | $653 | 2 mi |
| Pine Harbor | CDP | 566 | $80,833 | n/a | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Marion County
Distances run center to center, from Harrison County at 17 miles out to Gregg County at 34. Richest neighbor: Gregg County, $66,550. Poorest: Caddo Parish, $50,705. Marion County: $49,672. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $49,672 | $911/mo | 78% |
| Harrison County, TX | 17 mi | $66,103 | $974/mo | 77% |
| Cass County, TX | 20 mi | $53,813 | $852/mo | 77% |
| Morris County, TX | 31 mi | $58,645 | $859/mo | 74% |
| Caddo Parish, LA | 31 mi | $50,705 | $974/mo | 60% |
| Upshur County, TX | 34 mi | $66,208 | $995/mo | 81% |
| Gregg County, TX | 34 mi | $66,550 | $1,102/mo | 60% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marion County
- Medical bills. 14% of Marion County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Marion County budgets.
- 27% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Age 51.3 at the median. Many Marion County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
More Marion County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 14.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Marion County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.6% | -18.2 pts | -6.6 pts |
| Median age | 51.3 | +15.7 yrs | +9.8 yrs |
| Work from home | 3.8% | -10.6 pts | -4.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | +4.5 pts | +5.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.7% | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 14.3% | -2.8 pts | +6.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | +2.6 pts | +2.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | -0.6 pts | n/a |
| Minutes to work | Marion County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.5% |
A Marion County household budget, worked through
DTI math using Marion County medians ($49,672 income, $911 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, Marion County: $4,139
- Less median rent of $911, which is 22% of it
- $579: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Homeowners in Marion County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Licensing and complaints for Marion County
Consumer lenders serving Marion County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. A second Texas office, the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, covers consumer credit. If a Marion County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Marion County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Keep exploring
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is $49,672 a good income in Marion County?
It is the county median, so half of Marion County households earn more and half less; 24% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Marion County?
$911 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Can Marion County owners borrow against a $101,500 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.
Which towns does the Marion County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Jefferson, Pine Harbor.
Does living in Marion County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Marion County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.