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Marathon, IA
City in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
Population
234
Land area
0.7sq mi
People per sq mi
312
ZIP codes
0
Marathon and its ZIP codes
Marathon at a glance
- Marathon is about 5.4 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
Local data for Marathon, IA
Counts from official public data
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Buena Vista County. PPP loans are for Marathon.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,480
10,291 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,087
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$126M
FY 2026, $6,042 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Marathon, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
646
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
11
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 8°F
32.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Marathon, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.6%
U.S. 33.3% +6.3 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.7%
U.S. 12.8% +3.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities near Marathon
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Albert CityCity | 5.6 mi | 0.5 |
| WebbCity | 6.5 mi | 0.5 |
| LaurensCity | 6.9 mi | 0.8 |
| Sioux RapidsCity | 8.7 mi | 0.8 |
| RembrandtCity | 9.5 mi | 0.2 |
| Gillett GroveCity | 11 mi | 0.2 |
| Linn GroveCity | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| TruesdaleCity | 14 mi | 0.1 |
| GreenvilleCity | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| HavelockCity | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| VarinaCity | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| AyrshireCity | 15 mi | 0.2 |
| CurlewCity | 15 mi | 0.8 |
| RossieCity | 15 mi | 0.1 |
| MallardCity | 16 mi | 0.4 |
| NewellCity | 17 mi | 1.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Marathon, IA in?
- Marathon is in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Marathon, IA?
- About 234 people live in Marathon, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Marathon?
- Nearby places include Albert City (5.6 mi), Webb (6.5 mi), Laurens (6.9 mi), Sioux Rapids (8.7 mi), Rembrandt (9.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023