In Marion County, Kansas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Marion County, 16.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 89% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 86% of U.S. counties.
What drives Marion County's score
In Marion County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 39.2. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 12.8.
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.
- 39.2 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202636th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.4% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
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- 31.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202543rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.6% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score28.1% · second quarter of 20268th percentile
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- 29.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.3% · 202417th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.1% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability13.7% · 2020 to 202428th percentile
- People without health insurance6.8% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,222 · 202442nd percentile
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- 25.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.0% · August 202522nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people85.5 · 202528th percentile
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- 12.8 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 rent10.9% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.7% · fiscal year 202710th 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, 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Marion County
Kansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Marion County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 28.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Marion County, Kansas, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.1%; 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 rise, from 3.9% in 2020 to 5.5% in 2021.
The share of households in Marion County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 6.1%
Low on the chart: 3.7% in 2019. 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, Kansas.
How Marion County has changed
Marion County's population had its largest drop, from 13,715 in 1979 to 13,197 in 1984.
Marion County's population fell 17% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 14,066 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Marion County, Kansas.
The number of jobs located in Marion County had its largest rise, from 3,440 in 1990 to 3,908 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Marion County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 14% since
High on the chart: 4,211 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Marion County, Kansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.8% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.7% | 2024 9.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,135 | 2024 $69,222 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Marion County's history
1867
Chisholm Trail was routed along the western edge of Marion County from 1867 to 1871. Wikipedia
1920
The county's largest recorded population was the 1920 Census count of 22,923. The 2020 Census counted 11,823, 52% of the peak. Census Bureau
1956
A tornado in April 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1956
A tornado in April 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1956
A tornado in April 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in March 1990 did $25 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Marion County, 14 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 3rd of the seven; Dickinson County is highest, at 29.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County, KS | 29 | 8.5% | 29.5% |
| Morris County, KS | 23 | 10.5% | 28.1% |
| Chase County, KS | 20 | 10.2% | 20.1% |
| Butler County, KS | 19 | 8.3% | 19.3% |
| Harvey County, KS | 19 | 8.5% | 25.2% |
| Marion County, KS | 13 | 9.3% | 28.1% |
| McPherson County, KS | 6 | 8.3% | 20.9% |
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 Kansas?
No, Marion County's poverty rate was 9.3% in 2024, 88th highest of 105 in Kansas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Riley County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Marion County ranks 80th of 105 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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Kansas Legal Services
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.