Marcus, IA, Main Street, 2020
Marcus’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 171 in 1880, 1,079 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1969 on.
- 1871Marcus is settled
MarcusIA
A town of 1,038, settled in 1871.
Photo: Ruralisms · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,038
2025 Census estimate · −3.4% since 2020
Typical home
$185K
−2.1% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
43.9
years
Jobs based here
416
Balanced
Is Marcus a good place to live?
Marcus’ best subject grade is an A for cost of living. 30% of residents are 65 or older in Marcus, above both the Iowa town median (19%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Among 138 Iowa towns, just 2 have a lower median rent than Marcus. Only 4 of Iowa’s 276 towns score lower on the outdoors. Marcus has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
StrongestACost of living
What makes Marcus stand out
Where Marcus beats most towns.
Typical home value
Marcus$185K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA
2.6 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 95% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Marcus16.1
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical IA town7.5
Civic lifeB+
2.1 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Iowa town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| MMCRU Marcus Elementary | PK–4 | 166 |
| MMCRU High School | 9–12 | 213 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,038 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Marcus grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Marcus is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.8 of 20; 13.8% of households have no car; 2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →HealthCherokee Regional Medical Center 13.8 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & income$78K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →History2 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life7.4 library visits per resident; 16.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Marcus: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marcus, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMarcus Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Marcus’ trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCherokee County AuditorCherokee County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5103551035 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Marcus.
Who lives here
Older than Iowa overall
People 65 and older are 30% of residents (18% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (23% statewide). At 43.9 years, Marcus’ median age is against 38.7 years in Iowa’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Marcus has lost 3.4% of its people since 2020, down to 1,038 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
43.9median age · IA 38.6
| Marcus | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 25% | 29% |
MarcusIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma14%
High school30%
Some college22%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
45% women, 55% men
About 122 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.5 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women. Among residents 35 to 44, 78% are men (IA 51%).
| Marcus | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.6% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.3% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.6% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.2% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 14.1% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.5% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.4% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.1% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.9% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsB+
Marcus’ schools rank ahead of 70% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District. Its two schools are below.
70%of IA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMCRU Marcus ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 166 | B+ |
| MMCRU High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 213 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Marcus home is worth about $185K
The typical Marcus home is worth about $185,000, down 2.1% in a year, 22% below the Iowa typical home. 83% of households own their home in Marcus.
$185KZillow home value
Typical home value
Marcus$185K
Iowa$237K
−2.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Marcus
Marcus has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 9° and about 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall38–60°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of Marcus’ workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Marcus for work: only 12% work in town. 5.3% of Marcus residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Marcus grew to 416 in 2023, 28 more than in 2013.
12%work in town
| Marcus | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Marcus12%
Cherokee15%
Le Mars8%
Sioux City7%
Orange City3%
20 mi
median commute distance
416
jobs based in Marcus
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 66% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Marcus is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns
Marcus beats the Iowa average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 9 have a lower share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Marcus.
55%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Marcus | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
3 better26 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Marcus | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71.9% | 66.6% |
| More adults seeing a dentist | 71.1% | 66.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.2% | 8.7% |
Cherokee Regional Medical Center
13.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Marcus faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities.
51risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Marcus
18pages on Marcus
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Marcus; the nearest are
Northwestern CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Orange City17.6 mi$36,710 tuitionNorthwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sheldon25.3 mi$7,350 in-state tuitionNebraska Indian Community CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Macy, NE56.1 mi$4,080 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Marcus residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Marcus
City in Iowa, USA
Marcus is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,079 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,460 ft
- ZIP code
- 51035
- Area code
- 712
Questions about Marcus
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Marcus, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Marcus, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Robert E. Smylie and Donald Eugene O'Brien.