Marion County, Iowa Income Statistics
Marion County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Marion County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,418 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,052 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Marion County is about 6% higher than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Marion County (4.0%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Marion County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Marion County, Iowa grew by 50.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,418 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Marion County
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.512 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,592 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,341 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.9% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Marion County, it is 0.512, about the same as Iowa's 0.510, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Marion County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $638,785 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Marion County, Iowa has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 26%. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 20% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,480 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Marion County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.2% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 382 people are unemployed in Marion County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Marion County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Marion County, Iowa has fallen from 5.1% to 2.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.9% in 2023.
Marion County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Marion County, IA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 33,642 residents against a local median of 22,021. The measure that sets Marion County, IA apart most is unemployment: 2.2%, 38% below the local median of 3.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.6% on unemployment, so Marion County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Marion County, IA has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County, IA | 33,642 | $79,418 #2/6 | 4.0%/yr #4/6 | 2.2% #1/6 | 0.512 #6/6 |
| Jasper County, IA | 37,954 | $70,936 | 3.4%/yr | 5.7% | 0.510 |
| Lucas County, IA | 8,716 | $64,607 | 3.6%/yr | 5.2% | 0.511 |
| Monroe County, IA | 7,513 | $70,943 | 5.4%/yr | 3.1% | 0.490 |
| Mahaska County, IA | 22,021 | $71,408 | 4.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.508 |
| Warren County, IA | 54,398 | $95,575 | 4.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.505 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Marion County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Marion County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Marion County, Iowa?
Marion County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $79,418, about 6% higher than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Marion County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Marion County, Iowa rose 51%, from $52,705 to $79,418. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +51% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Marion County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Marion County, Iowa was $79,227, up 7% from $74,065 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Marion County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Marion County, Iowa was $64,360. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $79,418.
How strong is the job market in Marion County, Iowa?
Unemployment in Marion County, Iowa is only 2.2%, well below the Iowa rate of 3.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Marion County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Marion County is 0.512. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Marion County, Iowa?
The income gap between men and women in Marion County, Iowa has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 26%. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 20% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,480 since 2009.
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