Housing decision brief
Marion County, OH Housing Market
Marion County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
22nd lowest home value out of 88 Ohio counties with data | 49th lowest rent out of 88
Median home value
$146,200
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$850/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$908/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.6x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$58/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$146,200 median home value is 16% below Ohio county median
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Lower income base
$57,306 median income is 12% below Ohio county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Marion County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $146,200 | $173,050 | $281,900 | 16% favorable16% below Ohio county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $850 | $833 | $1,163 | Near state median2% above Ohio county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $908 | $903 | $1,672 | Near state median1% above Ohio county median |
Median household income | $57,306 | $65,182 | $74,755 | 12% pressure12% below Ohio county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.98% | 1.00% | 1.02% | Near state median2% below Ohio county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 12% pressure29.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$23,306
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$18,392
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Marion County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $850/month in gross rent, with 29.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $850/month rent versus $908/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $58/month cheaper , a 6% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $34,000/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $38,914/year. With a median household income of $57,306, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Marion County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Gallia County where rent averages $798/month, Marion County is approximately 7% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashtabula County, OH | $149,600 | $816/mo | Same-state comparison near $149,600 home value and $816/mo rent. |
| Richland County, OH | $154,000 | $791/mo | Same-state comparison near $154,000 home value and $791/mo rent. |
| Ross County, OH | $158,500 | $858/mo | Same-state comparison near $158,500 home value and $858/mo rent. |
| Clark County, OH | $155,900 | $840/mo | Same-state comparison near $155,900 home value and $840/mo rent. |
| Guernsey County, OH | $154,100 | $803/mo | Same-state comparison near $154,100 home value and $803/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Marion County
Is Marion County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Marion County?
How much income do you need for housing in Marion County?
What should I double-check before moving to Marion County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.