CountyScore

Marion County

Kansas · KS

#66 in Kansas
66.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Marion County, Kansas

Marion County outpaces the nation

Marion County's composite score of 65.0 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper third of U.S. counties. This 30% performance advantage reflects strong affordability and manageable taxes despite modest household incomes.

Slightly below Kansas average

Marion County ranks just below the Kansas state average of 66.0, putting it in the middle tier of the state's 105 counties. The county maintains solid livability credentials while representing typical Kansas small-county economics.

Affordable housing anchors Marion

A cost score of 83.6 makes Marion County one of Kansas's most affordable places to live, with median home values of $114,400 and gross rent averaging just $727 monthly. The county's 1.726% effective tax rate provides reasonable fiscal stability for residents.

Income growth lags in Marion

Marion County's income score of 24.8 reflects a median household income of $63,438, notably below both state and national averages. Several quality-of-life dimensions including health, schools, and safety remain unmeasured, limiting the full livability picture.

Best for budget-conscious families

Marion County suits retirees and working families prioritizing affordability over high wages, offering a low-cost platform for modest-income households. The county's strength in housing costs and reasonable taxes make it attractive to those seeking rural Kansas living without financial strain.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax53.7Cost83.6SafetyComing SoonHealth72.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.8Risk62WaterComing Soon
🏛53.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡62
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Marion County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Seminole County
Georgia
66.5
Median income: $49,559
Monroe County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $101,635
White County
Illinois
66.5
Median income: $53,097
Cass County
Iowa
66.5
Median income: $61,657
Crawford County
Iowa
66.5
Median income: $65,039

Deep Dives

Marion County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Marion County

via TaxByCounty

Marion taxes above national median

Marion County's effective tax rate of 1.726% exceeds the national median of 1.29%, placing it in the upper-middle range nationally. The typical Marion homeowner pays $1,974 annually—about 27% less than the national median of $2,690, reflecting Kansas's lower home values overall.

Among Kansas's higher-taxed counties

Marion's 1.726% rate ranks above the Kansas state average of 1.549%, making it one of the higher-taxed counties in the state. The median tax bill of $1,974 is just slightly above Kansas's state median of $1,943.

Higher than Marshall, lower than Mitchell

Marion's rate of 1.726% sits comfortably between neighboring Marshall County (1.280%) and Mitchell County (1.901%). Among immediate regional peers, Marion homes typically face mid-range tax burdens.

What Marion homeowners actually pay

The median Marion home valued at $114,400 generates roughly $1,974 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, that figure rises to $2,140; without one, it drops to $1,801.

You may be overassessed

Studies show that many homeowners across Kansas pay taxes on inflated property assessments. Marion County residents should consider appealing their assessments if recent market sales suggest their homes are overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Marion County

via CostByCounty

Marion County rents remain below national pressure

At 13.8%, Marion County's rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below the national norm, meaning residents spend less of their paychecks on housing than most Americans. The county's median rent of $727 per month costs considerably less than the state average of $787, giving renters breathing room despite a median household income of $63,438—about $11,000 below the national average.

Marion County ranks among Kansas's most affordable

With a 13.8% rent-to-income ratio, Marion County outperforms the Kansas state average of 14.7%, placing it in the upper tier of affordable counties statewide. This advantage holds even as the county trails state income averages, reflecting genuinely modest housing costs relative to what residents earn.

Marion edges out rural neighbors on affordability

Marion County's $727 median rent undercuts McPherson County's $889 and Meade County's $799, making it one of the cheapest rental markets in the region. However, Marshall County nearby offers even tighter housing costs at $670 per month, suggesting renters have affordable options across this part of central Kansas.

Housing takes 13.8% of Marion incomes

A typical Marion County renter earning $63,438 annually spends about $727 monthly on gross rent, while homeowners face $780 in monthly ownership costs on median-valued homes of $114,400. Together, these figures show housing costs remain manageable for both renters and owners, leaving more income for other necessities.

Consider Marion for rural Kansas value

If you're comparing cost of living across Kansas, Marion County delivers solid affordability without requiring big-city sacrifices—rents and home prices rank well below state averages. Check out neighboring Marshall County if you want to push affordability even further, or explore McPherson if you prefer slightly higher incomes with moderate housing cost trade-offs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Marion County

via IncomeByCounty

Marion County's income lags national benchmark

Marion County's median household income of $63,438 falls about 15% below the national median of $74,755. While the county underperforms nationally, it tracks closely with Kansas's state average of $64,428, placing it squarely in the middle of the Sunflower State's economic range.

Middle-of-the-road earners in Kansas

Marion County ranks near the midpoint among Kansas's 105 counties for household income, neither leading nor lagging significantly in the state's economic landscape. Its $63,438 median positions it just below the state average, reflecting Kansas's relatively consistent income distribution across rural and small-town communities.

Marion stands among mixed-income neighbors

Marion County's $63,438 median sits between lower-earning Mitchell County ($58,233) to the west and higher-earning McPherson County ($77,701) to the north. Adjacent Marshall County ($70,828) earns notably more, suggesting geography and local employment opportunities significantly shape earnings in this region.

Housing costs squeeze Marion households

Marion County's 13.8% rent-to-income ratio sits above the national affordability threshold of 12%, meaning renters spend more of their earnings on housing than the national benchmark. The median home value of $114,400 remains reasonable relative to income, but rising rents suggest affordability pressures for lower-wage workers in the county.

Build financial stability in Marion County

With median household income at $63,438, Marion County families have opportunity to strengthen finances through disciplined saving and smart investing in accessible tools like employer retirement plans and low-cost index funds. Starting small—even 3% of household income directed to emergency savings or long-term investment—can compound significantly over years, creating wealth that outlasts economic cycles.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Marion County

via HealthByCounty

Marion outlives the nation

At 76.6 years, Marion County residents live longer than the U.S. average of 76.1 years—a modest but meaningful advantage. Just 14.4% report poor or fair health, slightly below the national rate of 17%, suggesting Marion's population enjoys relatively stable health outcomes.

Above Kansas average lifespan

Marion County's 76.6-year life expectancy beats Kansas's 75.4-year state average by 1.2 years. The county ranks solidly in the middle tier for health outcomes across Kansas's 105 counties, performing better than struggling rural areas but not among the state's top performers.

Marion keeps pace with neighbors

Marion matches McPherson County's 77.6-year life expectancy when you account for measurement variation, though McPherson has a slightly lower poor/fair health rate at 14.0% versus Marion's 14.4%. Marion's healthcare provider availability—17 primary care providers per 100K—lags behind neighboring Marshall County's 60 per 100K, however.

Insurance and provider access in Marion

Marion County's 11.1% uninsured rate sits just below Kansas's 11.5% state average, meaning about 1 in 9 residents lack health coverage. With only 17 primary care providers per 100K population, Marion residents may face travel times for routine care, though mental health services at 77 per 100K are reasonably available.

Get covered in Marion County

If you're among Marion's 11.1% uninsured residents, now is the time to act. Visit healthcare.gov or Kansas's state insurance marketplace to explore options—you may qualify for subsidies that make coverage affordable.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Marion County

via RiskByCounty

Marion County's risk profile

Marion County scores 37.98 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and sitting above Kansas's state average of 29.89. This places the county in the lower-risk tier nationally, where most communities experience manageable natural disaster exposure.

Mid-range risk among Kansas counties

Marion County ranks in the middle of Kansas's 105 counties for overall disaster risk, neither among the state's safest nor most exposed communities. Its Very Low rating reflects exposure to multiple hazard types rather than a single dominant threat.

Riskier than most neighbors

Marion County's 37.98 score exceeds neighboring McPherson County (39.22) and Marshall County (21.41), though all three share elevated wildfire risk. Marion sits between Marshall's lower overall exposure and McPherson's higher tornado vulnerability.

Wildfire and tornado threat

Wildfires pose the highest relative risk here with a score of 78.09, making defensible space around structures essential. Tornadoes rank second at 69.05, requiring reliable early warning systems and a practiced family safety plan.

Secure coverage for fire and wind

Marion County residents should verify comprehensive homeowners coverage including wildfire protection and ensure tornado/wind deductibles are affordable. A windstorm rider or enhanced homeowners policy protects against the county's two dominant hazards.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.