Hill Grade School · National Register of Historic Places
Marion’s story
166 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1893.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1860Marion is settled
MarionKS
Photo: Spacini (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,897
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$148K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
47.4
years
Jobs based here
796
Balanced
Is Marion a good place to live?
The best of Marion’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A− for civic life and history; the weakest is a D for incomes. Only 4 of the 152 Kansas towns we compare have a higher share of residents 65 or older than Marion. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Among 150 Kansas towns, just 4 have a lower median rent than Marion. Marion has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Marion County Courthouse and Hill Grade School. Marion has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Marion stand out
Where Marion beats most towns.
Typical home value
Marion$148K
Kansas$246K
Cost of livingA
2.3 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 89% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Marion6.9
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical KS town4.2
Civic lifeA−
64% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Kansas town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Hill Grade SchoolHistoryA−
Settled in 1860
A history going back 166 years.
How Marion grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kansas), ordered by how far Marion is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →Jobs & income$58K median household income; 796 jobs based hereDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 7.9% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthHealthier than 63% of U.S. towns; St. Luke Hospital & Living Center 0.7 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailC+Open →History7 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life2.9 library visits per resident; 6.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 91° summer afternoons, 12″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here29% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Marion: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marion, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of MarionEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Marion water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Marion’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Kansas you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMarion County ClerkMarion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code6686166861 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 Marion.
HousingCost of living grade A
Homes in Marion are worth about $148K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Marion home is worth about $148,000, up 4.3% in a year, 40% below the Kansas typical home.
$148KZillow home value
Typical home value
Marion$148K
Kansas$246K
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB
Public schools in Marion beat 63% of Kansas districts
Its public schools are run by the Marion-Florence school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
63%of KS districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion ElemLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 238 | A |
| Marion HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 159 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KS on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Older than Kansas overall
People 65 and older are 28% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (23% statewide). At 47.4 years, Marion’s median age is where Kansas’ towns sit at 38.1 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. 20% of Marion residents are under 18.
47.4median age · KS 37.4
| Marion | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 years | 38.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 24% | 22% |
MarionKansasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school32%
Some college24%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 43% and 64% women
The Census survey reached too few of Marion’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±10.6 points. Across Kansas, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Marion | KS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.9% | 12.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.9% | 11.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.1% | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.4% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.9% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.7% | 12.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.5% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.7% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.2% | 8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.9% | 25.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.3% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.9% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.9% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.7% | 13.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,900, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Marion, expect four seasons and hot summers
Marion has chilly winters and warm summers. At 91°F, Marion’s July high is near the Kansas town median (91°F) and above the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–44°
Spring43–67°
Summer66–89°
Fall45–69°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Compared with most of Kansas and the rest of the country, fewer of Marion’s adults sleep under 7 hours
29% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Marion. Among 151 Kansas towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Marion. 13% of adults smoke cigarettes in Marion.
63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Marion | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 35% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
8 better20 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Marion | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8% | 11.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 8.1% |
St. Luke Hospital & Living Center
0.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
About one in three working residents works right in Marion
About one in 3 of Marion’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Marion is 17 minutes. The top destinations are Wichita (10%), Hillsboro (10%) and Florence (4%).
31%work in town
| Marion | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 31% | 15% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Marion31%
Wichita10%
Hillsboro10%
Florence4%
Manhattan3%
20 mi
median commute distance
796
jobs based in Marion
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Marion
Marion's reported crime rate is well below Kansas's. Most reported incidents are property crimes. 5 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Marion | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.7 per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.5 per 1,000 residents | 11 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Marion2.7
Kansas4.8
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Marion8.5
Kansas19.2
U.S.15.5
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
16
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Marion
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,765 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Central Park | 0.1 mi | 6 |
| 2. East Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
| 3. Ann's Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Marion
19pages on Marion
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 63% of KS districts · 3 schoolsSafety2.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than KS on 8 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$148K typical home · up 4.3% in a yearWork & commuteD$58K median household income · 796 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 60% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Marion
About 2 of every 100 Marion residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
Landmarks
5 places in Marion on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Marion
7 notable people were born in Marion.
F
Fay MoultonAthletics and American football competitor · 1876–1945
B
Beverly HochAmerican operatic soprano · born 1951T
Tex JonesAmerican baseball player · 1885–1938About Marion
City in Marion County, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,922. The city was named in honor of Francis Marion, a brigadier general of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1860
- Area
- 3.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,312 ft
- ZIP code
- 66861
- Area code
- 620
Questions about Marion
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Marion, KS 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 Marion, KS known for?
7 notable people were born here, including Fay Moulton and Randolph Carpenter.