McDowell County, North Carolina
Marion Real Estate and Local Guide
County seat of McDowell County in the Blue Ridge foothills, known for a revitalized historic Main Street and nearby mountain and lake recreation. Ranked Realty pairs verified local data with the agents who know Marion best.
About the area
Living in Marion, NC
Named North Carolina's Small Town of the Year for 2018 by the NC Rural Center.
The housing market
Homes in Marion
- About 47% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, a lower share typical of a county seat with more rental housing.
- Roughly 66% of housing units are single-family detached homes.
- The median home value is about $131,100.
Landmarks and lifestyle
What makes Marion home
Carson House
1793 house museum on the National Register of Historic Places, a former stagecoach inn
McDowell County Courthouse
1928 courthouse anchoring downtown Marion
Main Street Historic District
Downtown district listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway
Riverside greenway with fishing piers and fitness stations along the Catawba River
Lake James
Large Catawba River reservoir and state park area near Marion for boating and swimming
Neighborhoods
Marion areas to know
West Marion
Census-designated place adjacent to the city, bordered to the south by Interstate 40
East Marion
Populated place within the Marion city limits
For agents
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Local facts on this page are verified against public sources as part of the AppWT local-data project. Data reflects the most recent available figures.