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North Carolina›McDowell County
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West MarionNC

Population 1,066: a town in North Carolina.

Population
1,066
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$162K
Census ACS
Household income
$37K
median
Median age
35.8
years
Jobs based here
76
A commuter town

Is West Marion a good place to live?

West Marion’s best subject grade is an A− for cost of living; its weakest is a D for incomes. Among 291 North Carolina towns, just 3 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than West Marion. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Among 291 North Carolina towns, just 10 have a lower typical household income than West Marion. West Marion has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

StrongestA−Cost of livingWeakestDJobs & incomeC−WalkabilityC−Health
Small town

1,066 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Marion · 2 miOld Fort · 9 miGlen Alpine · 14 miMontreat · 16 miBlack Mountain · 17 miLake Lure · 17 mi
MarionMarionWest Marion

How West Marion grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far West Marion is from typical.

How grading works

Jobs & income$37K median household income; 76 jobs based hereDOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $162K, 2.8 years of the Marion area’s $57K median household incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 1.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →HealthThe Mcdowell Hospital 0.9 miles awayC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →SchoolsBehind 53% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsLittle open land or trail by comparisonC−Open →HistoryAmong the weakest of the towns comparedDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Who lives hereMedian age 35.8; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to West Marion: who provides what

West Marion is unincorporated, so McDowell County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerRutherford Elec Member13.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Marion water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMcDowell CountyMcDowell County provides services here
SchoolsMcDowell County SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereMcDowell County Board of ElectionsMcDowell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code2875228752 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 West Marion.

HealthC−

West Marion is less healthy than 77% of U.S. towns

16% of adults report frequent physical distress in West Marion, above both North Carolina’s towns (13%) and U.S. towns (14%). CDC measures, 32 in all: West Marion beats North Carolina on 1 and trails on 12. In West Marion, just over two in five adults have high blood pressure.

23%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
West MarionNorth Carolina townsU.S. towns
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)42%38%35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)16%13%14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)18%14%14%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)15%13%12%
32 measures vs. North Carolina
1 better19 too close to call12 worse
What stands outWest MarionNC
More adults treating high blood pressure79.7%76.7%
More adults with COPD10.9%7.1%
The Mcdowell Hospital
0.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageWest Marion’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby0.9 miles to an ER · The Mcdowell HospitalHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than NC on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade D

With only 0.1 jobs per working resident, most people in West Marion work out of town

The mean commuting time for West Marion comes to 19 minutes, below both the North Carolina town median (24 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). The median commute is under 21 miles. Among residents locally, 15% live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Marion (22%), Asheville (9%) and Charlotte (6%).

0%work in town
West MarionNorth Carolina townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work19 minutes24 minutes25 minutes
Below the poverty line15%13%9.6%

Where working residents work

In West Marion0%
Marion22%
Asheville9%
Charlotte6%
Morganton5%
21 mi
median commute distance
76
jobs based in West Marion
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Full pageWest Marion’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here76 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work0% work in West MarionCommute times19 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 21 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+

Top of a low hazard risk in West Marion: inland flooding

Expected losses in West Marion break down as 63% from inland flooding and 11% from tornadoes. On expected storm and flood damage, West Marion sits below 68% of U.S. communities.

32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
32Low riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingTornadoesIce storms
Full pageWest Marion’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesLow riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters17 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1.2 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In West Marion, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

West Marion’s midsummer high comes in at 88°F.

7″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter30–52°
Spring45–70°
Summer63–86°
Fall47–71°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 5
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageWest Marion’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 88°, January lows 28°Rain & snow7″ of snow a winter · 57 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HousingCost of living grade A−

Homes in West Marion sell for about $432K

For households in West Marion, the share who live in a home they own is 63%. The town’s median rent is $866 a month.

$432Kmedian sale price
West MarionNorth Carolina townsU.S. towns
Median rent$866 a month$1,085 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home63%67%73%
0
homes sold in September
Full pageWest Marion’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsPrices over the yearsYears of income to buyA typical home costs 11.8 years of incomeRents$866 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

OutdoorsC−

0% of West Marion is conserved land

0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.

0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 962 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Creekwise Park—17
Full pageWest Marion’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map0.0 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk17 acres · Creekwise ParkConserved land0% conserved · 0 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in West Marion?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Nearby attractions

Mount Mitchell and 20 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around West Marion. Close and well known come first.

All 43 attractions →
Big draw16 mi MountainMount Mitchell11 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year34 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain19 mi Park & preserveLinville Gorge Wilderness20 mi State parkChimney Rock State Park38 mi Theme parkLand of Oz
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Mount Mitchell: Unknown, Public domain · Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Linville Gorge Wilderness: No machine-readable author provided. Amcbride~commonswiki assumed (based on copy, Public domain · Chimney Rock State Park: Jmturner, Public domain

Keep exploring

Everything we know about West Marion

16pages on West Marion
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 53% of NC districtsHealthC−Better than NC on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−Work & commuteD$37K median household income · 76 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
OutdoorsC−0 mi of trails · 0% conserved landPlacesAttractions43 nearby · Blue Ridge Parkway 11 miLibraryMcdowell County Public LibraryCollegesMcDowell Technical Community College is 3.2 mi away
The story
Climate88° summer highs · 7″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of West Marion

McDowell Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Marion3.2 mi$2,032 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 West Marion residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

100% of working residents leave West Marion for work

Where West Marion’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

22% → Marion Marion 22% 9% → Asheville Asheville 9% 6% → Charlotte Charlotte 6% 5% → Morganton Morganton 5% 2% → Black Mountain Black Mountain 2% 2% → Hickory Hickory 2% West Marion · 0% stay
76jobs based in West Marion
0%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Questions about West Marion

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is West Marion, NC expensive?

Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $162,000, 51% below the North Carolina typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.