1st Advantage MortgageMarion County households have a median income of $67,370 and median rent of $932 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Marion County, WV: the basics
- Income in Marion County compared with West Virginia
- Housing costs in Marion County
- The Marion County job picture
- Regional comparison for Marion County
- The communities that make up Marion County
- Budget math at the Marion County median
- Reading the Marion County data as a borrower
- More Marion County figures
- Checklist for Marion County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Marion County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marion County, WV: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Marion County's population at 55,909; only 10 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. It covers 309 square miles of land, or about 181 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Fairmont is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 18,221 people (33% of the county total).
Income in Marion County compared with West Virginia
Half of Marion County households take in less than $67,370 a year and half take in more, 13% above the West Virginia median of $59,608. In the state ranking that is 6th of 55.
| Yearly household income | Marion County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | -5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -0.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Marion County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.6%, 3 points lower than the state's 16.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). 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.
Housing costs in Marion County
Renters in Marion County pay a median of $932 a month, 7% above the West Virginia figure of $872. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,700, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1961.
| Home costs | Marion County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $932/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,700 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 15% | 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
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Marion County residents work in education and health care and 10% in retail trade. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward other services (7% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Marion County share | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | +1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Regional comparison for Marion County
Six nearby counties, 13 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $51,394 in Barbour County to $68,041 in Greene County; 1 of these neighbors top Marion County's median. The list crosses into Pennsylvania, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | - | $67,370 | $932/mo | 77% |
| Monongalia County, WV | 13 mi | $65,346 | $987/mo | 58% |
| Taylor County, WV | 16 mi | $57,795 | $835/mo | 84% |
| Harrison County, WV | 17 mi | $60,377 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Wetzel County, WV | 22 mi | $56,836 | $688/mo | 83% |
| Greene County, PA | 24 mi | $68,041 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Barbour County, WV | 29 mi | $51,394 | $803/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Marion County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Marion County residents live in one of the 15. Incomes vary by place: $98,953 at the median in Idamay, $48,000 in Rivesville. Median rent ranges from $762 in Mannington to $1,096 in Pleasant Valley. This guide covers each of the 15 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont | city | 18,221 | $63,032 | $916 | 5 mi |
| Pleasant Valley | city | 3,482 | $67,635 | $1,096 | 6 mi |
| Mannington | city | 1,829 | $54,286 | $762 | 5 mi |
| Barrackville | town | 1,430 | $78,558 | $825 | 4 mi |
| White Hall | town | 946 | $76,667 | $1,060 | 7 mi |
| Monongah | town | 837 | $50,875 | $998 | 3 mi |
| Rivesville | town | 627 | $48,000 | $850 | 7 mi |
| Idamay | CDP | 575 | $98,953 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Grant Town | town | 506 | $64,688 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Farmington | town | 390 | $72,045 | $594 | 1 mi |
| Fairview | town | 267 | $55,583 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Carolina | CDP | 261 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
| Baxter | CDP | 153 | $6,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Worthington | town | 102 | $33,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Marion County median
How much room does a median Marion County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,614 gross per month ($67,370 / 12)
- Less median rent of $932, which is 17% of it
- $1,033: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,594 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $932, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Marion County data as a borrower
Based on the Marion County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidating cards in Marion County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
More Marion County figures
27% of Marion County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Marion County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Marion County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Checklist for Marion County applicants
A short checklist for Marion County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A West Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Marion County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Marion County resident can confirm its license with the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Marion County earn?
The median is $67,370; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Marion County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $932 against $872 statewide, and 44% 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 77% 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 Fairmont, Pleasant Valley, Mannington, Barrackville, White Hall and 10 more.
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.