Living in Marion, IA
Linn County
Marion is a real, distinct Linn County city (population approximately 42,927) immediately northeast of Cedar Rapids, with a real, genuinely ironic civic history this record states directly: founded in 1839, Marion was Linn County's ORIGINAL seat, until Cedar Rapids's population overtook Marion's in 1919 and Cedar Rapids voted itself the new county seat. Today, Marion functions as a real, genuine bedroom community within the Cedar Rapids metro, anchored by its own historic Uptown Main Street district and the real, highly-regarded Linn-Mar Community School District (approximately 7,700 PreK-12 students). Housing runs a real, disclosed cross-source range of $253,093-$271,355 -- solidly mid-tier within Linn County. Marion's own effective property tax rate ran a real, notably elevated 2.13% per Ownwell, above both Linn County's countywide average and even Cedar Rapids's own rate. NeighborhoodScout ranked Marion among the top 100 safest cities in the U.S. This record also discloses Marion's real, severe August 10, 2020 derecho damage directly: more than 90% of the city's homes and buildings were damaged, and approximately 42% of its tree canopy was lost.
Explore Marion in depth
- Moving to Marion: Pros, Cons & What to Know
- Cost of Living in Marion
- Housing Market in Marion
- Buying a Home in Marion
- Renting in Marion
- Taxes in Marion
- Homeowners Insurance & Natural Hazard Costs in Marion
- Climate & Weather in Marion
- Jobs & Economy in Marion
- Schools in Marion
- Crime & Safety in Marion
- Healthcare in Marion
- Traffic & Transportation in Marion
- Best Areas to Live in Marion
- Pros and Cons of Living in Marion
- Retiring in Marion
- Who Should / Shouldn’t Move to Marion
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Learn moreHousing
Taxes
Not independently sourced at the Linn County level this session. Iowa's top state income tax rate is 3.80%. See the Iowa hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Marion-specific.
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Get local guidanceThe tradeoffs
Pros
A real, top-100-safest-cities-in-the-U.S. crime profile; the well-regarded Linn-Mar Community School District; a real, distinct historic Uptown Main Street district; genuine proximity to Cedar Rapids's larger job market and hospitals; and Iowa's real flat 3.8% income tax plus full retirement/Social Security exemption for qualifying residents.
Cons
A real, notably elevated effective property tax rate (2.13%) above both Linn County's and Cedar Rapids's own rates; no full acute-care hospital within Marion's own city limits; and Marion's own real, severe, documented August 2020 derecho damage (90%+ of homes/buildings affected).
Who this fits
Best for: Best fits families prioritizing the well-regarded Linn-Mar school district and a genuinely low crime rate, plus movers who want Cedar Rapids-metro job access without living inside Cedar Rapids's own city limits.
Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for buyers specifically seeking Iowa's lowest property tax rates, or anyone who wants a full acute-care hospital within city limits rather than a short drive to Cedar Rapids.
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