Marion County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Marion County, Illinois had an estimated 36,437 residents on July 1, 2024, down 3.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,738, across 572 square miles. County output reached $1.76 bn in 2024, 863 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 17 7(a) approvals worth $10.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Marion County
How many people live in Marion County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,000
- Households15,512
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$61,240
- Median age41.5
- Median gross rent$794 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$103,000
- Home value to household income1.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,698
- Population under 188,685
- Share under 1823.5 percent
- Population 65 and over7,473
- Share 65 and over20.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,842
- Civilian labor force17,574
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.1 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties36th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1284th of 3,222
Marion County is the 36th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 1.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.5 percent against 20.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Marion County
Is Marion County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,437
- Census 2020 base population37,738
- Population change since the 2020 census base-3.45 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-203
- Births, 2024417
- Deaths, 2024566
- Natural change, 2024-149
- Net domestic migration, 2024-67
- Net international migration, 202414
- Total net migration, 2024-53
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-585
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2814th of 3,144
The county has lost 3.45 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Marion County
Where are people moving to Marion County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving728
- People arriving, from those returns1,337
- Tax returns filed by households leaving825
- Net household movement-97
- Adjusted gross income arriving$30.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$41,363
- Average income of a leaving household$40,259
- Largest single originClinton County (143 households)
- Largest single destinationClinton County (143 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 143 | 259 | $6.1 m |
| Jefferson County | 69 | 145 | $2.3 m |
| Fayette County | 45 | 91 | $1.5 m |
| Washington County | 44 | 88 | $1.9 m |
| Madison County | 22 | 30 | $696,000 |
| St. Clair County | 22 | 52 | $1.4 m |
| Effingham County | 21 | 41 | $815,000 |
Households arriving report $1,104 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Clinton County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Marion County
What is the Marion County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.76 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.72 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.3 percent
- GDP change over five years32.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes43rd of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1389th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,509
Output grew 2.3 percent in the latest year and 32.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Marion County
Employment by industry in Marion County
- Covered employment, annual average12,409
- Establishments reporting796
- Average annual pay$49,266
- Average weekly wage$947
- Manufacturing, employment2,759
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$58,623
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,628
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,461
- Retail trade, employment1,197
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,784
- Accommodation and food services, employment884
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,236
- Transportation and warehousing, employment523
- Construction, employment414
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,759 | 41 | $58,623 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,628 | 78 | $47,461 |
| Retail trade | 1,197 | 116 | $35,784 |
| Accommodation and food services | 884 | 74 | $21,236 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 523 | 38 | $71,017 |
| Construction | 414 | 74 | $66,954 |
| Other services, except public administration | 354 | 76 | $39,237 |
| Wholesale trade | 300 | 21 | $72,118 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,759 jobs, 22.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Marion County
How many businesses are in Marion County?
- Establishments, all industries863
- Employment at those establishments11,370
- Annual payroll$554.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Marion County
Building permits in Marion County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202425
- Declared construction value permitted$3.0 m
- Single family units authorized5
- Multifamily units authorized20
- Multifamily share of units80.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$118,940
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.6
Multifamily is 80.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Marion County
SBA loans in Marion County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded17
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$599,688
- Median 7(a) approval$325,000
- Largest single approval$3,475,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)300
- Jobs per approval17.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals14
- Median 7(a) term180 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter8
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals11.8 percent
- Most active lenderPeoples National Bank National Association (5)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.6 m
- Average 504 approval$1,101,500
- Median 504 approval$506,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval16.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.7
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$16.8 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marion County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Marion County
Do SBA loans in Marion County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure8
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marion County
SBA lending by place in Marion County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Salem, approvals9
- Centralia, approvals5
- Kinmundy, approvals1
- Kell, approvals1
- Patoka, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | 9 | $8,238,700 |
| Centralia | 5 | $1,311,000 |
| Kinmundy | 1 | $500,000 |
| Kell | 1 | $90,000 |
| Patoka | 1 | $55,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marion County
How large is Marion County?
- Land area572 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties40th of 102
- Width, east to west24.3 mi
- Height, north to south24.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land65
- Establishments per square mile1.51
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Marion County
Flood risk in Marion County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Marion County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 170932
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Marion County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Marion County (community 170932), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Marion County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 50.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Marion County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Marion County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,000
- Households15,512
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$61,240
- Median age41.5
Common questions
Marion County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Marion County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,437 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 37,000, in 15,512 households, ranking 36th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Marion County's population growing?
The population has fallen 3.45 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,738, to 36,437 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 417 births against 566 deaths, with net migration of -53. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Marion County?
$61,240. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $103,000, which is 1.7 times income, and median gross rent is $794 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Marion County?
863 establishments, employing 11,370 people with an annual payroll of $554.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Marion County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,759 jobs, 22.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,409 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,266, or $947 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Marion County?
17 7(a) approvals totaling $10.2 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $325,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $6.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Marion County?
25 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.0 m. Multifamily was 80.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Marion County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Marion County come from?
The largest single origin is Clinton County, with 143 households. Arriving households report an average income of $41,363 against $40,259 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Marion County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Marion County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Marion County
Cities and places in Marion.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Marion County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | city | 11,856 | 5 | 79.2 percent here, 17.2 percent Clinton County |
| Salem | city | 7,236 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Central City | village | 1,081 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sandoval | village | 1,004 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Odin | village | 972 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wamac | city | 804 | None recorded | 36.2 percent here, 53.6 percent Washington County, 10.2 percent Clinton County |
| Kinmundy | city | 803 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Junction City | village | 638 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Farina | village | 570 | None recorded | 15.5 percent here, 84.5 percent Fayette County |
| Iuka | village | 534 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Patoka | village | 498 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Alma | village | 285 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kell | village | 145 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Walnut Hill | village | 127 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vernon | village | 69 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby