Housing decision brief
Marion County, TN 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.
41st lowest home value out of 95 Tennessee counties with data | 60th lowest rent out of 95
Median home value
$173,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$840/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$702/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$138/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$173,600 median home value is 7% below Tennessee county median
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $138/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 27.9 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
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
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- 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. | $173,600 | $186,300 | $281,900 | 7% favorable7% below Tennessee county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $840 | $804 | $1,163 | Near state median4% above Tennessee county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $702 | $695 | $1,672 | Near state median1% above Tennessee county median |
Median household income | $58,103 | $57,408 | $74,755 | Near state median1% above Tennessee county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.44% | 0.50% | 1.02% | 12% favorable12% below Tennessee county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 26.00% | N/A | Near state median26.00% 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
+$24,503
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,017
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Marion County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $840/month representing approximately 17.3% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Marion County pay $840/month on average, compared to $702/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 16%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $33,600/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $30,086/year. With a median household income of $58,103, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Marion County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Tennessee, Marion County is more affordable than Benton County by roughly 7% ($840/mo vs $788/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meigs County, TN | $185,500 | $845/mo | Same-state comparison near $185,500 home value and $845/mo rent. |
| Rhea County, TN | $178,500 | $796/mo | Same-state comparison near $178,500 home value and $796/mo rent. |
| Humphreys County, TN | $186,900 | $830/mo | Same-state comparison near $186,900 home value and $830/mo rent. |
| Stewart County, TN | $182,700 | $837/mo | Same-state comparison near $182,700 home value and $837/mo rent. |
| Sullivan County, TN | $190,800 | $850/mo | Same-state comparison near $190,800 home value and $850/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.