Marathon, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Marathon, Iowa had a total population of 234, the 670th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $39,375, which is 48% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 48% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 15.0% is notably above the national average.
Marathon Quick Facts
How Marathon Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 199 | 234 | +17.6% |
| Median household income | $40,417 | $39,375 | -2.6% |
| Median home value | $41,700 | $46,900 | +12.5% |
How Marathon Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Marathon Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Buena Vista County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake | 11,428 | $62,765 | 7.0% | $172,200 |
| Alta | 2,250 | $65,833 | 10.2% | $146,600 |
| Newell | 944 | $66,667 | 2.0% | $122,600 |
| Albert City | 722 | $80,972 | 12.9% | $96,500 |
| Sioux Rapids | 722 | $60,000 | 6.1% | $88,700 |
| Lakeside | 563 | $106,250 | 2.7% | $246,400 |
| Linn Grove | 215 | $62,250 | 9.3% | $93,300 |
| Truesdale | 187 | $100,076 | 8.0% | $35,800 |
| Rembrandt | 157 | $58,438 | 19.8% | $85,800 |
Cities Similar to Marathon
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douds | 243 | N/A | $96,700 | 27.5% | 41.6% |
| Bagley | 223 | $38,906 | $80,000 | 10.2% | 19.0% |
| Randolph | 235 | $46,500 | $90,500 | 24.5% | 6.8% |
| Cincinnati | 229 | $45,625 | $56,400 | 11.5% | 23.6% |
| Mystic | 216 | $41,000 | $57,500 | 1.2% | 17.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 234, Marathon's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Marathon is a small community located in Iowa, within Buena Vista County. The total population is 234. It ranks as the 670th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Marathon is 53.5 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Marathon is $39,375. This is 48% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.2%. This is 128% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 15.0%. This is 320% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $46,900. Housing costs are 77% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Marathon is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Marathon is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%.
Education
11.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Marathon, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Marathon, Iowa?
Marathon, Iowa has a population of 234 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Marathon, IA?
The median household income in Marathon is $39,375, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Marathon, IA?
The poverty rate in Marathon is 25.2%. This means approximately 59 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Marathon, Iowa?
Marathon's population is 78.2% White, 0.0% Black, 4.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Marathon, IA?
The median home value in Marathon is $46,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.2x.
How educated is Marathon, Iowa?
11.8% of adults (25+) in Marathon hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.