Marathon’s age of the median resident is 56.5 years, where Texas’ towns sit at 35.9 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Marathon’s density of trails is 2.4 miles per square mile, where Texas’ towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Gage Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Marathon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

283 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Gage Hotel · National Register of Historic Places

Marathon’s story

143 years in pictures

1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.

1883Marathon is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Marathon: who provides what

Marathon is unincorporated, so Brewster County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerRio Grande Electric Coop18.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMarathon Water Supply & Sewer ServiceNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesBrewster CountyBrewster County provides services here

SchoolsMarathon Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereBrewster County Early Voting ClerkBrewster County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP code7984279842 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 Marathon.

Work & commute

With 1.6 jobs for every working resident, Marathon draws in 177 commuters

The median household income for Marathon comes to $46,000. Only 7% of working residents stay in Marathon for work; the rest commute out. Among residents locally, 18% live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Marathon has lost 195 jobs, to 185 in 2023.

7%work in town

	Marathon	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	18%	12%	9.6%
Median household income	$46,000	$69,000	$80,000
Average trip to work	27 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Marathon7%

Alpine19%

Terlingua8%

Midland5%

Lubbock3%

71 mi

median commute distance

185

jobs based in Marathon

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageMarathon’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here185 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work7% work in Marathon Commute times27 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 71 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Schools

The schools Marathon’s kids attend

Its public schools are run by Marathon ISD. 58 students attend the town’s public school.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Marathon Independent School DistLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12	Grades PK–12	58	C⁻

Full pageMarathon’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsMARATHON ISD Every school1 school · Marathon Independent School Dist Questions“Are Marathon’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Who lives here

Fewer children than Texas overall

24% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, against 34% across Texas. Children under 18 are 3% of residents (25% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 52% of residents (38% statewide).

56.5median age · TX 35.6

MarathonTexasUnited States

TXU.S.

Ages · share of residents

34%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma16%

High school26%

Some college6%

Associate’s28%

Bachelor’s19%

Graduate5%

Women and men · all residents

Somewhere between 42% and 79% women

The Census survey reached too few of Marathon’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±18.5 points. Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Marathon
	Marathon	TX	U.S.
Under 10	2.8%	13.3%	11.6%
10 to 17	0%	11.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	3.9%	9.7%	9.1%
25 to 34	23%	14.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	4.2%	14.1%	13.2%
45 to 54	14.1%	12.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	33.9%	11.1%	12.7%
65 to 74	8.1%	8.2%	10.2%
75 and older	9.9%	5.2%	7%
No diploma	15.9%	14%	10.4%
High school	26.1%	24.3%	26%
Some college	5.7%	20.1%	19.1%
Associate’s	28%	7.7%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	18.9%	21.5%	21.6%
Graduate	5.3%	12.3%	14.1%

Full pageMarathon by the numbersOpen the page

Ages56.5 median age · 18% are 65 or older Schooling24% have a four-year degree Homes63% own their home · Homeowners Income$46K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 300, single groups can be off by several points

Housing

The typical home in Marathon: about $177K

In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 8.5%. For households in Marathon, the share who live in a home they own is 63%.

$177KZillow home value

Typical home value

Marathon$177K

Texas$296K

+8.5%

value change, 1 year

Full pageMarathon’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 8.5% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.9 years of income RentsRents

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

Climate

Marathon has mild winters and hot summers

Marathon’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 91°F.

92°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter31–63°

Spring47–80°

Summer63–91°

Fall47–77°

Nov 1

typical first frost

Apr 7

typical last frost

+2.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

92°

typical summer high

Full pageMarathon’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 91°, January lows 30°Rain & snow13″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+2.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of Texas and the rest of the country, fewer of Marathon’s adults have been diagnosed with depression

In Marathon, 38% of adults have high blood pressure. CDC measures, 31 in all: Marathon beats Texas on 14 and trails on 5.

	Marathon	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	13%	18%	17%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	9.2%	14%	14%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	19%	22%	23%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	33%	39%	36%

31 measures vs. Texas

14 better12 too close to call5 worse

What stands out	Marathon	TX
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	9.3%	19.3%
Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off	5.5%	10.7%
More adults who have had cancer	9.8%	6.1%

Big Bend Regional Medical Center

28.4 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

Full pageMarathon’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby28.4 miles to an ER · Big Bend Regional Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than TX on 14 of 31

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

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: moderate risk in Marathon, mostly inland flooding

FEMA puts a third of Marathon’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 25% to wildfires. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities.

47risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingWildfireDrought

Full pageMarathon’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters10 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready2.3 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Outdoors