Marion

Population: 7,594
Median household income: $44,472
Median home value: $131,100

Marion is a community in McDowell County, North Carolina, home to 7,594 residents. Its median household income of $44,472 runs below the McDowell County figure of $55,527.

From 2019 to 2023, Marion's population declined 3.1% from 7,834 to 7,594, while its median home value rose 47.0% from $89,200 to $131,100.

14.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Owners occupy 46.6% of the area's occupied homes.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 7,594
Median age: 38.3 yrs
Median household income: $44,472
Median home value: $131,100
Median gross rent: $687
Housing units: 3,108
Homeownership rate: 46.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.2%
Unemployment rate: 8.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

7,8347,594

Median household income

$38,280$44,472

Median home value

$89,200$131,100

Median gross rent

$598$687

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	7,834	$38,280	$89,200	$598
2020	7,853	$41,117	$97,400	$628
2021	7,703	$41,580	$107,000	$642
2022	7,652	$48,520	$122,200	$610
2023	7,594	$44,472	$131,100	$687

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.9%

5 to 1717.2%

18 to 2410.3%

25 to 3414.7%

35 to 4415.3%

45 to 5414.1%

55 to 6410.4%

65 to 749.3%

75 and over5.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	217	2.9%
5 to 17	1,308	17.2%
18 to 24	779	10.3%
25 to 34	1,114	14.7%
35 to 44	1,165	15.3%
45 to 54	1,069	14.1%
55 to 64	793	10.4%
65 to 74	705	9.3%
75 and over	444	5.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,484	59.0%
Black or African American	894	11.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	97	1.3%
Asian	343	4.5%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	149	2.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,627	21.4%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma21.6%

High school graduate36.0%

Some college or associate's28.2%

Bachelor's degree10.6%

Graduate or professional degree3.7%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,142	21.6%
High school graduate	1,902	36.0%
Some college or associate's	1,493	28.2%
Bachelor's degree	559	10.6%
Graduate or professional degree	194	3.7%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 27 min

Drove alone83.0%

Carpooled11.7%

Public transit0.3%

Walked1.4%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home2.3%

Other means1.2%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	1,969	83.0%
Carpooled	278	11.7%
Public transit	6	0.3%
Walked	34	1.4%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	55	2.3%
Other means	29	1.2%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	937	40.5%
15 to 29 min	625	27.0%
30 to 44 min	345	14.9%
45 to 59 min	152	6.6%
60+ min	257	11.1%

Households

Average household size: 2.38
Poverty rate: 24.2% (1,568 of 6,487)

	Count	Share
Family households	1,847	68.1%
Nonfamily households	865	31.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1969

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,712	87.3%
Vacant	396	12.7%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	1,263	46.6%
Renter-occupied	1,449	53.4%

1-unit, detached65.8%

1-unit, attached2.1%

2 to 4 units6.1%

5 to 19 units9.8%

20 or more units6.3%

Mobile home & other9.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	2,045	65.8%
1-unit, attached	65	2.1%
2 to 4 units	191	6.1%
5 to 19 units	306	9.8%
20 or more units	197	6.3%
Mobile home & other	304	9.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3741420
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 6.79 sq mi
Water area: 0.03 sq mi
Center point: 35.6761, -82.0011