In Marion County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Marion County, 15.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 95% of U.S. counties.
What drives Marion County's score
In Marion County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 38.2. Jobs are the lowest part, at 4.5. About one in 10 adults aged 25 to 54 (10.5%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a lower share than in 96% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Marion County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Marion County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 38.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.2% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people124.4 · 202549th percentile
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- 25.5 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent17.8% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.0% · fiscal year 20272nd percentile
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- 15.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.8% · 202420th percentile
- Children below the poverty line9.6% · 202411th percentile
- People with a disability13.6% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- People without health insurance2.5% · 2020 to 20241st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,672 · 202417th percentile
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- 11.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.2% · August 202512th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.7% · August 202510th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score29.6% · second quarter of 202611th percentile
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- 4.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working10.5% · 2020 to 20243rd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Marion County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Marion County, 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Marion County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Marion County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 19.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Marion County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Marion County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 10.1% in 2021 to 8.5% in 2022.
The share of households in Marion County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 5.7% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Marion County, Iowa.
How Marion County has changed
Marion County's population rose 30% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 29,190. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Marion County, Iowa.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Marion County rose by about half to 19,508, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 18,546. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Marion County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.8% | 2025 2.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.4% | 2024 9.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,412 | 2024 $81,672 |
The table uses 2.8% for 2025; the score uses 2.6% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Marion County's history
1874
Coal mining in Marion County began around 1874 or 1875 with Union Coal Company mine in Flagler. Wikipedia
1890
Coal mine in Knoxville operated J. T. James mine north of courthouse until 1890. Wikipedia
1997
A thunderstorm in June 1997 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A tornado in July 2018 did $120 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 33,414, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1965
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Marion County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Marion County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Marion County, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Marion County ranks 5th of the seven; Lucas County is highest, at 28.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas County, IA | 32 | 14.3% | 28.0% |
| Polk County, IA | 23 | 10.2% | 16.5% |
| Jasper County, IA | 18 | 9.3% | 24.4% |
| Monroe County, IA | 18 | 11.3% | 25.2% |
| Mahaska County, IA | 6 | 11.6% | 22.9% |
| Marion County, IA | 4 | 9.8% | 19.9% |
| Warren County, IA | 3 | 6.6% | 16.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Marion County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Marion County's poverty rate was 9.8% in 2024, 67th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Marion County ranks 77th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Marion County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Marion County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Marion County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.