Rents are 6% above what Marion's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,287 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Marion usually run 1.1% below trend in February and 1% above it in August, about $27 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Marion is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.
Rent in Marion changed +11.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,743) is $2,169 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,580).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Marion. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Marion, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 38.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Marion, IA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Marion, IA paid around $922 a month. That figure now sits near $1,287, up 39.6% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $86,743 today, compared with $75,927 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Marion, IA adding about 873 residents over the five-year window, up 2.1% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,287/mo, how Marion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Marion rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Marion. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Marion
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Marion is $1,287/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $640/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $720/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,320/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($86,743/yr), Marion ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 11.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Marion?
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How does Marion rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Marion?
At $1,287/mo, rent takes ~18% of Marion's median household income ($86,743/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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