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NC area data

Marion, NC

Marion, NC.

Population: 30,292 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Marion, NC is $236,440 — down 2.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $305,500 after a median 67 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,251/month. 13 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with ice storm, drought, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$236,440

Typical home value

-2.9%

1-year change

67

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$236,440
1-year appreciation
-2.9%
3-year appreciation
+0.6%
5-year appreciation
+11.6%
10-year appreciation
+86.2%
Peak value since 2000 (Mar 2025)
$245,715
House Price Index (state)
445.4 (+0.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$305,500
Median list price
$322,500
Median price per sqft
$195
1-year sale-price change
+22.2%
Median days on market
67 days
Homes sold (recent period)
56
For-sale inventory
151
Sale-to-list ratio
95.3%
Active listings
148
1-year forecast
-0.3%
New listings (monthly)
30

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,251/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$864/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$910/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,012/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,289/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,330/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
94.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
13
Elementary schools
6
Middle schools
3
High schools
4
Avg student-teacher ratio
14.9 : 1
Schools include
East McDowell Middle School, Eastfield Global Magnet School, Glenwood Elementary School, Marion Elementary School, McDowell High School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
ice storm, drought, landslide, lightning, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
ice storm: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · landslide: Relatively Moderate · lightning: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Low
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone AE
NFIP flood claims on record
64
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 64% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
86.7%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Chemtronics, Inc. (23.2 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
58.0°F
Average high
68.0°F
Average low
48.0°F
Annual precipitation
56.6 in
Annual snowfall
7.1 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
7b (extreme annual low 5 to 10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
9.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
5,417
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
4,047

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
6
Nearest national park
Blue Ridge Parkway (27 mi)
National parks include
Blue Ridge Parkway, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Cowpens National Battlefield
Airports within 30 mi
15
Nearest airport
Shiflet Field (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) (34 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
THE MCDOWELL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.3 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+221 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1982
Housing built before 1970
32.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
20.6%
Median annual property tax
$904
Mean commute to work
22 min
Households with broadband internet
63.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
13,004
Average weekly wage
$923
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
164

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

MarionState medianUS median
Typical home value$236,440$285,911$288,527
Median sale price$305,500$330,000$325,000
Median days on market67 days70 days51 days
Typical rent$1,251/mo$1,688/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$904$1,366$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Marion, NC?
$236,440.
What is the median sale price in Marion, NC?
$305,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Marion, NC?
Median days on market: 67 days.
What is typical rent in Marion, NC?
Typical rent: $1,251/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Marion, NC?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: ice storm, drought, landslide, lightning, strong wind.
Is Marion, NC in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Marion, NC. 64 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is AE. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Marion, NC?
Risk to homes is higher than 64% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Marion, NC?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Marion, NC?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Marion, NC?
13 schools (6 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Marion, NC walkable?
Walkability index: 9.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in Marion, NC?
Regional Price Parity: 94.3 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Marion

Listing a home in Marion, NC?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents