Iowa City vs Marion
Iowa City, 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.
Marion edges out Iowa City on overall objective livability (49 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Iowa City | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $55k | $82k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $43k |
| Home Value | $257k | $208k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $906 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.76% | 1.79% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.53% | 12.85% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | 3.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 23°F | 20°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.7 in | 38.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.5 in | 34.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 93 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 76.9 | 56.2 |
| Air Quality | 56 AQI | 55 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.7 | 49.3 |
| Violent Crime | 1172/100k | 682/100k |
| Property Crime | 1555/100k | 1230/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 74,878 | 41,401 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 39.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.41 | 0.18 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+44 | D+14 |
| White (%) | 73.2% | 89.3% |
| Black (%) | 8.4% | 2.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.7% | 3.3% |
| Asian (%) | 7.8% | 1.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.9% | 3.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 12.2/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 189 mi | 189 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.6% | 92.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 33.79 | 41.54 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | 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 Iowa City or Marion more affordable?
- Marion has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Iowa City's $45k and Marion's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Iowa City versus $906 in Marion.
- Is Iowa City or Marion safer?
- Marion has the lower violent crime rate. Iowa City reports 1172/100k and Marion reports 682/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Iowa City or Marion?
- The median home value is $257k in Iowa City and $208k in Marion, so homes are more affordable in Marion.