Marion, NC: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Marion is a city in and the county seat of McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1844, the city was named in honor of Brigadier General Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War Hero whose talent in guerrilla warfare earned him the name "Swamp Fox". Marion's Main Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The population was 7,717 at the 2020 Census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Marion ranks

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#12Lowest property tax in NC #29Cheapest rent in NC #40Most affordable in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28752

Area code828

Living in Marion

Housing in Marion

$239K▼ 2.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Marion home is worth about $239,000, down 2.8% in a year, 29% below the North Carolina typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market119

Sale-to-list94.5%

Sold in May9

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Marion

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Marion reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 85% report less. Within North Carolina, it does better than 39% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Marion 2.3

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Marion 30.7

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Marion

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 28% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 60% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

14worse than NC

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

14.6%More uninsured adultsNC 10.4% · worse 18.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethNC 13.9% · worse 18.1%More smokersNC 13.5% · worse

Care nearby

The Mcdowell HospitalMarion · 1.8 mi · ER

Mcdowell County Health CenterMarion · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Marion · CMS · HRSAHealth in Marion →

Schools in Marion

All Marion schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Marion’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 57% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#85Best public schoolsof 252 in NC

DistrictMcDowell County SchoolsSchools8

Marion Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 333 students Eastfield Global Magnet School C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 279 students East McDowell Middle School CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 392 students Foothills Community School B+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 200 students McDowell Early College A+High · Grades 9–13 · 241 students McDowell Academy for Innovation A+High · Grades 9–13 · 158 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from MarionWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Marion.Meet them →