Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 35 min6:12 am – 8:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 44 min7:34 am – 5:18 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People30,292 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 41.712,424 householdsMedian household income $55,783Median home value $166,000Median rent $777 a month73% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $904 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting3.6% unemployment rate55% of adults are in the labour force, 13,132 employedMain industries: education and health care 28%, manufacturing 22%, retail 10%Average commute 24 minutes84% drive alone, 10% car-pool, 5% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher84% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 90%, Spanish 8%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 67°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 28°F57 in of rain a year, on about 82 dayswettest month June7 in of snow a year, on about 3 days32 days above 90°F, 101 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Marion station, 2 mi away
Parks and public landsCity of Marion - Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenwayrecreation area · under a mileFonta Flora State Trailstate park · 3.3 mi · 240 acresMcDowell County - Greenlee Parkrecreation area · 1.5 miPisgah National Forestnational forest · 4.1 mi · 510,983 acresBobs Creek State Natural Areastate park · 7.6 mi · 3,706 acresLake James State Parkstate park · 8.0 mi · 3,920 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes10 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 25 Aug 200544 mi away, near Hot Springs, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 4 Jun 202348 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowMcDowell County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality82% of days had good air in 2025291 of 357 days measured65 moderate, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 31, worst day 102main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Mitchell County, NC, 22 mi away
Internet at home85% of households have a broadband subscription63% have cable, fibre or DSL16% rely on a mobile data plan alone11% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCity of Marionserves 9,362 people from surface water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: lead and copper, treatment technique6 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,228 ft374 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMission Hospital McDowell3.2 miPost officeMarion Post Office2.5 miTown hallMarion City Hall2.1 miPoliceMarion Police Department2.6 miFire stationMarion Fire Department2.3 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi2 schools1 middle, 1 highMiddleWest McDowell Middle Schoolunder a mileHighMcDowell High Schoolunder a mileCollegeMcDowell Technical Community College5.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL34 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT70 miInterstateI-404.4 miUS highwayUS 221 Bypunder a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS58 miCoachForest CitySunway Charters29 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28752 ZIP area.
