City Report · OH

Marion

Pop. 35,669·102nd most expensive in Ohio·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,154/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+2.1%
vs US Median
-$778
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Marion · $1,154
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,154/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$47,951/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Marion's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$840
1 BR
$860
2 BR
$1,130
3 BR
$1,360
4 BR+
$1,500
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,130/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,154 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($47,951) is $1,199 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,130); a 3-bedroom is $1,360.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Marion. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,848/yr
At $1,154/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +2.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Marion, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 10.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
35,669
Median income
$47,951
Median age
39
Renters
42.8%
Age distribution
19.6%
25%
26%
14.6%
14.9%
Under 1819.6%
18–3425%
35–5426%
55–6414.6%
65+14.9%
Gender
55.2%
44.8%
Male55.2%
Female44.8%
Race & ethnicity
80.6%
White80.6%
Black8.9%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.5%
Other6%
Education (25+)
13.5%
45.1%
31%
No HS diploma13.5%
HS diploma45.1%
Some college31%
Bachelor's+10.5%
Housing tenure
57.2%
42.8%
Owner57.2%
Renter42.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Marion, OH has changed in 5 years

Income
$41,884 → $47,951
up 14.5%
Population
36,053 → 35,669
down 1.1%
Renter share
44.2% → 42.8%
-1.4 pts
Bachelor's+
11% → 10.5%
-0.5 pts
Median age
36.9 → 39
+2.1 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Marion, OH now reports about $47,951, up from $41,884 in 2021. The population has contracted by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 36,053 residents to roughly 35,669.

Community

Discussions about Marion

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View Marion rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Marion on your salary?

At $1,154/mo, how Marion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Marion rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Marion. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Marion

About renting in Marion, OH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Marion is $1,154/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,130/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,360/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($47,951/yr), Marion ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Marion?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,154/mo in Marion. The local median household income is $47,951/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Marion?

Rent in Marion has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Marion rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Marion is one of the more affordable among Ohio cities for rent, ranking #102 of 125 tracked cities at $1,154/mo.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,154/mo, rent takes ~29% of Marion's median household income ($47,951/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Marion 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.75–3.5%
Run the Marion affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Marion, OH

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