Marion County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Marion County, Iowa has a population of 33,642, the 21st most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $78,680 and the median home value is $233,000. The poverty rate is 8.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Marion County Quick Facts
How Marion County 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 | 33,551 | 33,642 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $78,059 | $78,680 | +0.8% |
| Median home value | $211,100 | $233,000 | +10.4% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Marion County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pella | 10,720 | $84,111 | 5.9% | $292,700 |
| Knoxville | 7,473 | $61,599 | 12.5% | $160,300 |
| Pleasantville | 1,899 | $67,614 | 4.1% | $168,300 |
| Melcher-Dallas | 1,176 | $58,611 | 13.6% | $99,800 |
| Bussey | 414 | $43,125 | 15.0% | $79,000 |
| Harvey | 174 | $52,250 | 9.2% | $77,500 |
| Hamilton | 107 | $63,750 | 19.6% | $70,000 |
| Marysville | 70 | N/A | 4.3% | $205,000 |
| Swan | 55 | N/A | 10.9% | N/A |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Marion County is located in Iowa with a total population of 33,642. It is the 21st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Marion County is 39.9 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Marion County is $78,680. This is 5% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $233,000. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Marion County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
32.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher 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 94.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Marion County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Marion County, Iowa?
Marion County has a population of 33,642, making it the 21st most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Marion County?
The median household income in Marion County is $78,680 with a poverty rate of 8.2%.
How many cities are in Marion County, Iowa?
Marion County contains 9 Census-designated places.