Marion County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$78,680$6,557 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Marion County, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Marion County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Marion County, IA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $701 | $8,412 | $28,040 | 10.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $808 | $9,696 | $32,320 | 12.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,016 | $12,192 | $40,640 | 15.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,218 | $14,616 | $48,720 | 18.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,356 | $16,272 | $54,240 | 20.7% |
What a typical income covers in Marion County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $78,680 a year ($6,557 a month before tax).
What $78,680 leaves after Iowa taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Iowa tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Iowa
Living in Marion County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Marion County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Marion County, IA is $78,680 per year (approximately $6,557 per month).
What is the average rent in Marion County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $701 for a studio, $808 for one bedroom, $1,016 for two, $1,218 for three and $1,356 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Marion County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Iowa is 87.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Marion County, IA?
To keep a $1,016 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $40,640 a year, or $3,387 a month. That is 52% of what the typical household in Marion County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Marion County, IA?
On the local median income of $78,680 ($6,557 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,278 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,967 for everything else and $1,311 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,016 takes 31% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Marion County, IA?
Homes in Iowa paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.