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Marion, NC
City in McDowell County, North Carolina.
Population
7,579
Land area
6.8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,116
ZIP codes
0
Marion and its ZIP codes
Marion at a glance
- Marion is about 5.1 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 127th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $51,314 a year, 29% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $163,500 (43% below North Carolina) and median rent is $762 a month.
Local data for Marion, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools8
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks3
- Post Offices1
- Parks6
- Grocery Stores8
- Restaurants80
- Affordable Housing4
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers6
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment3
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Historic Places6
Housing and community stats
Marion, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,314
Poverty rate
23.5%
Median home value
$163,500
Median rent
$762/mo
Homeownership
51.3%
Bachelor's or higher
15.6%
Median age
39.1
Average commute
21.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (1,069), Irish Americans (466), German Americans (387).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for McDowell County. PPP loans are for Marion.
Unemployment rate
3.2%
Sep 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,681
15,394 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,502
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$403M
FY 2026, $9,036 per person
How people get to work
Marion, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.3%
- Carpooled14.6%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.5%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home2.6%
Average one-way commute: 21.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Marion, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
653
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
138
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 28°F
56.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Marion, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.1%
U.S. 33.3% +3.8 pts
Diabetes
13.0%
U.S. 12.1% +0.9 pts
Smoking
18.1%
U.S. 12.8% +5.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.6%
U.S. 11.1% +3.5 pts
Cities near Marion
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| West MarionCensus-designated place | 2.2 mi | 1.5 |
| GlenwoodCensus-designated place | 4.6 mi | 1.6 |
| NeboCensus-designated place | 5.3 mi | 5.3 |
| Old FortTown | 10 mi | 1.2 |
| Glen AlpineTown | 13 mi | 2.1 |
| Spruce PineTown | 17 mi | 4.1 |
| MontreatTown | 17 mi | 2.7 |
| SalemCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 4.3 |
| MorgantonCity | 18 mi | 19.2 |
| Black MountainTown | 19 mi | 6.7 |
| Lake LureTown | 20 mi | 13.2 |
| RuthTown | 21 mi | 0.4 |
| Chimney Rock VillageVillage | 21 mi | 3.4 |
| RutherfordtonTown | 22 mi | 4.1 |
| SwannanoaCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 6.4 |
| SpindaleTown | 23 mi | 5.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Marion, NC in?
- Marion is in McDowell County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Marion, NC?
- About 7,579 people live in Marion, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Marion?
- Nearby places include West Marion (2.2 mi), Glenwood (4.6 mi), Nebo (5.3 mi), Old Fort (10 mi), Glen Alpine (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023