Dubuque vs Marion
Dubuque, Iowa versus Marion, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Dubuque and Marion score about the same overall (48 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Dubuque | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $82k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $178k | $208k |
| Monthly Rent | $915 | $906 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.44% | 1.79% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.31% | 12.85% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 3.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 19°F | 20°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.9 in | 38.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1 in | 34.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 235 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 94 days | 93 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 30.7 | 56.2 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 55 AQI |
| School Quality | 58.7 | 49.3 |
| Violent Crime | 2464/100k | 682/100k |
| Property Crime | 1807/100k | 1230/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 59,315 | 41,401 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 39.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.23 | 0.18 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+14 |
| White (%) | 86.4% | 89.3% |
| Black (%) | 4.0% | 2.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.8% | 3.3% |
| Asian (%) | 1.5% | 1.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 3.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 15 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 7.8/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 147 mi | 189 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.5% | 92.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 31.02 | 41.54 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Dubuque or Marion more affordable?
- Marion has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Dubuque's $43k and Marion's $43k. Median rent is $915 in Dubuque versus $906 in Marion.
- Is Dubuque or Marion safer?
- Marion has the lower violent crime rate. Dubuque reports 2464/100k and Marion reports 682/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Dubuque or Marion?
- The median home value is $178k in Dubuque and $208k in Marion, so homes are more affordable in Dubuque.