Marion, SC — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·South Carolina·Marion

Marion County · population 6,068

AffordabilityShrinkingSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
32
Declining
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Marion stands

Home values down 9.4% in the last year. population shrinking 1.5% per year.

Median home $145,317
1-year -9.4%
5-yr CAGR +2.4%
vs 5-yr peak -11.6%
Population -1.5%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2025-02$145k$86k$115k$143k$171k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
32/100
Poor remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
7 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
49 · w22%
Distance from peak
40 · w18%
Population growth
22 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
51 · w10%
Long thesis

Marion has held up across the cycle: home values at $145,317 with +2.4% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Marion is down 9.4% over the last 12 months and the trend isn't flattening. Falling knife rule applies: you don't catch one with your hands, you wait for it to hit the floor and stop moving.

About Marion

Marion is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, with an estimated population of 6,068. The population has contracted 1.5% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Marion is $145,317 as of 2026-04, down 9.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +2.4% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 12% below its 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 32 of 100 (Declining). The market is well off recent highs — patient long-term buyers may find opportunities, but resale liquidity is reduced.

▲ Bull case

●Cheap entry point: $145,317 median home is well below the US median of $355k — room to grow without overpaying.
○The data is the data: Marion has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.

▼ Bear case

●Prices actively falling: down 9.4% in the last 12 months — buyer sentiment has flipped. Sellers competing on price.
●Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.5% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
●12% off recent peak — buyers are getting through-the-cycle pricing, not the peak.
○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.

Playbook

Buyer

Make sure you're not catching a falling knife. Verify local fundamentals — jobs, population trend, school enrollment — before assuming the bottom is in. Negotiate hard and walk away from anything that doesn't pencil.

Seller

Be realistic. Below-list pricing may be required; time is not your friend. If you can wait 2-3 years for the cycle to turn, consider holding.

Investor

Cap rates can look great in Declining markets, but verify tenant pool, income stability, and exit liquidity before committing. A 10% cap on a vacant property is 0%.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Marion County right now.

NWS active alerts (SC)South Carolina Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Marion County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Marion

Chester, SC38 · CoolingGaffney, SC46 · CoolingLaurens, SC37 · CoolingWalterboro, SC56 · Stable

Run the numbers for Marion

ToolCan I afford Marion?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Marion rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Marion to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMarion cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
57° / 36°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
91° / 71°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
220
~60% of year
Annual precip
50″ rain
2″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
High
Tornado
Moderate
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Low
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Marion listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Charlotte area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
73%
Humid climate
Median household income
$63,600
South Carolina state median
Top industries (state-level)
Manufacturing (auto)TourismHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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