Marion County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Marion County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 21% above the Iowa median More expensive than 70% of counties in Iowa$184,905
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Median rent 9% below the Iowa median More expensive than 76% of counties in Iowa$883
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $184,905 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 15.2% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $883 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.9% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Marion County is about 21% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 9% lower than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Marion County, up about 15.2% and 3.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Marion County rose about 36.5% between 2015 and 2024, from $646 to $883. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.3 yearly household incomes in Marion County.
Buying the median-priced home in Marion County costs roughly 17.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Marion County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $184,905 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $79,418 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.3 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Marion County rose about 102.5%, while median household income rose about 43.1% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 71.9% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 20.6% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7.4% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2011 | 2011 |
Marion County has a homeownership rate of 71.9%, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 7.4%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.40 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1974 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Marion County was built around 1974. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 6.2 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Marion County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Marion County, IA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County, IA | 33,642 | $184,905 #3/3 | $883 #2/3 | 77.7% #2/3 |
| Mahaska County, IA | 22,021 | $202,419 | $793 | 68.0% |
| Warren County, IA | 54,398 | $310,000 | $972 | 82.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Marion County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Marion County, Iowa?
The median home price in Marion County, Iowa is $184,905, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Marion County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Marion County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $184,905. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Marion County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Marion County, Iowa is $883 per month, lower than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Marion County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Marion County, Iowa was $721 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Marion County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Marion County, Iowa is about 17.5, meaning it would take roughly 17.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Marion County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Marion County, Iowa?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Marion County, up about 15.2% and 3.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Marion County, Iowa?
71.9% of households in Marion County, Iowa own their home, higher than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Marion County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Marion County, Iowa is 7.4%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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