Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 16,836 residents · Williamson County, Illinois

Marion , Illinois

In Marion, a typical home is worth $158,300 and typical rent is $921 a month. Compared with all of Williamson County, typical household income is 13% lower and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $158,300

    About the same as the county

    40% below Illinois

    • Marion
    • Williamson
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $921a month

    About the same as the county

    28% below Illinois

    • Marion
    • Williamson
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $56,912a year

    13% below the county

    32% below Illinois

    • Marion
    • Williamson
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    7 points below the county

    4 points below Illinois

    • Marion
    • Williamson
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$182,490
2.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,112 a month
6.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Marion is in Williamson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Williamson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Marion apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in West Frankfort, the typical home value is $81,200: 49% less than in Marion ($158,300).

  2. Nearby, in West Frankfort, the typical rent is $661: 28% less than in Marion ($921).

  3. 63% of households in Marion own their home, against 71% in Williamson County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Marion

What homes there are in Marion, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Marion (67%), but less so than in Williamson County (75%).

Year built

By age, homes in Marion look like those in Williamson County: the typical year built is 1981.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Williamson County is high ($541,287): at least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Marion are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($996), about 60% of rented homes in Marion cost less.

With a mortgage

$1,233 a month

Williamson County: $1,374 a month

Without a mortgage

$593 a month

Williamson County: $560 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Williamson County: 57%

In Marion, 56% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,233 a month, against $1,374 in Williamson County. Without one it drops to $593.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Marion rose at about the same pace as in Williamson County: 37% against 36%.

Much as in Williamson County, the typical rent in Marion rose 25% since 2015–2019.

While home values in Marion changed +37% and rent +25%, the typical household income rose 31%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMarionWilliamson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.5%3.4%
People per household 1.992.232.462.53
Drive alone 80%82%66%69%
Carpool 7%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 11%9%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 1.99 on average, against 2.23 in Williamson County.

The car rules in Marion: 80% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Marion?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Marion, worth $158,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Marion, which is $56,912 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $60,791 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Williamson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Marion. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,541 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,418

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$155,432
Total interest
$223,631
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,673 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,328 a month

  • Tight

    $1,328 to $1,707 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $1,707 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Marion ($56,912 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,418
Principal & interest$1,053
Property tax$230
Home insurance$66
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$70

You need at least $5,541 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Marion and Williamson County

Marion is in Williamson County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Marion's own numbers

Typical home value
$158,300
Typical monthly rent
$921
Typical yearly household income
$56,912
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
1.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Williamson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$996
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Williamson County.

Everything about Williamson County

Buying

Buying a home in Marion

A typical home in Marion is worth $158,300: about the same as the county and 40% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Marion ($56,912 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Marion 2.8 years
  • Williamson 2.4 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Williamson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Williamson County rose 54% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Williamson County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.0% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +54% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Marion next to Williamson County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Marion $158,300
  • Williamson $156,400
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Marion $921
  • Williamson $930
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Marion $56,912
  • Williamson $65,604
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Marion next to Williamson County and Illinois
Measure Marion Williamson County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $158,300 $156,400 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $921 $930 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $56,912 $65,604 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 71% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,761 $2,690 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.74% 1.72% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 46% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Williamson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Marion

For a typical $158,300 home in Marion, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Marion's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,418a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,541
    Cash to close
    $10,290
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $70

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,389a month

    Down payment
    $7,915
    Cash to close
    $12,664
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $75

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,153a month

    Down payment
    $31,660
    Cash to close
    $36,409
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,300a month

    Down payment
    $23,745
    Cash to close
    $28,494
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Marion and for Williamson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Marion

1.74%of the home’s value each year

$2,761 a year for the typical owner in Marion.

  • Marion 1.74%
  • Williamson 1.72%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Williamson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Williamson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.4%
715
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.4% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Marion

Typical rent in Marion is $921 a month: about the same as the county. In Marion, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Williamson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($996 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.15 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Williamson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $694 $13.35 $27,760
1 bedroom $761 $14.63 $30,440
2 bedrooms $996 $19.15 $39,840
3 bedrooms $1,304 $25.08 $52,160
4 bedrooms $1,309 $25.17 $52,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Marion

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Marion is in ZIP code 62959.

For 2 bedrooms it is $980: $16 less than the fair market rent for Williamson County ($996).

  • 62959 $980$1,280

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Marion when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Marion

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Marion. These are the largest.

  • Butler High-Rise 501 N Market St, Marion 62959 164 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Marion, Illinois · Average payment: $343 a month · Average wait: 12 months (618) 997-1258
  • Sherman Drive Apartments 103 E Jones St, Marion 62959 164 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Marion, Illinois · Average payment: $410 a month · Average wait: 12 months (618) 997-1258
  • Shawnee Village 1404/06 West BLVD, Marion 62959 120 low-income homes · For families (618) 933-3186
  • River To River Community of Marion 1515 E Deyoung St, Marion 62959 50 low-income homes · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 37 · 2 bd: 5 · In service since 2011
  • Little Egypt Estates 1600 Morgan Ave, Marion 62959 42 low-income homes · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 6 · In service since 2005

See all 14 buildings in Williamson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Marion

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Williamson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Marion

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Marion or Williamson County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Marion the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Marion

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Marion, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • C.e.f.s. Clay County Outreach Office

    835 West North, Flora · 69 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (618) 662-4024

  • Urban League of Metropolitan ST. Louis - ST. Clair County Operations

    10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights · 83 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    618-274-1150-126

  • Erba Richland County Outreach Office

    306 E Main, Olney · 83 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    217-331-7031-229

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Marion

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Marion

HUD’s record names them for Marion or Williamson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Marion, Illinois Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (618) 997-1258
  • Housing Authority of the County of Williamson Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (618) 985-2422

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Williamson County

These cities are also in Williamson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Williamson County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Marion, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Williamson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Marion.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Marion

Short answers with the numbers for Marion and all of Williamson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Marion?

The typical home value in Marion is $158,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Williamson County it is $156,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Marion?

Typical rent in Marion is $921 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Williamson County is $996.

What is the FHA loan limit in Marion?

Marion uses the FHA limit for all of Williamson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Marion?

The typical homeowner in Marion pays $2,761 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.74% of the home’s value; in Williamson County, the rate is 1.72%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Marion?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Williamson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).