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Buying a home in Marion, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Marion is worth about $163,500, 43% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $922 a year in property taxes, about 0.56% of their home's value, lower than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $51,314 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 51% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 52% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Marion at a glance

Marion North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $163,500 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $922 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.56% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $51,314 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 51% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 52% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,082 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.8% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $762 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.6% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1991 1980
Vacant homes 13.7% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 7,579 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Marion

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Marion home of $163,500 with 20% down costs about $1,024 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,297, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $43,900 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Marion household income of $51,314; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $191,000.

The median rent here is $762 a month, so owning the median home costs about $262 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$32,700
Loan amount$130,800
Principal and interest$880
Property taxes (0.56% a year)$76
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$68
PMI$0
Total per month$1,024

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,722
Loan amount$160,539
Principal and interest$1,080
Property taxes (0.56% a year)$76
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$68
FHA mortgage insurance$72
Total per month$1,297

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Questions about home buying in Marion

What is the median home value in Marion?

About $163,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Marion?

Homeowners pay a median $922 a year, which is about 0.56% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Marion?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,024 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,900 a year.

More about Marion

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data