Real Estate Investing in Marion, Kansas (66861)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Marion County • Population: 2,929 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66861 (Marion, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 26.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Marion, KS (66861)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $151,077
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,727
% Renters 17.6%

Market Analysis: 66861 Marion

ZIP 66861 inside Marion County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $151K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $151K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 66861 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within KS, ZIP 66861 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Marion County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

Put differently, 2,929 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 66861 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Marion:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 66861

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$52,480/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $108,513 $880 5.8% +8.1% $54,256
3BR $157,441 $1,160 5.3% +8.1% $52,480
4BR $218,083 $1,160 3.8% +8.2% $54,521

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$158K$139K$119K$100K$81K$62KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66861 Compare?

Metric 66861 Marion Kansas
Home Value $151,077 $151,077 $237,409
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 7.0% 7.2%
Avg Rent $792 $792 -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 66861? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66861 (Marion, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $151,077
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 15.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
26.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66861

Population: 2,929

💰 Median Household Income
$59,727
This area
$59,727
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 3.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.2%
This area
29.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 66861

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$16,167 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Marion High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,167 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marion Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,167 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Marion Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
119 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,167 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
C
Tabor College
664 students · 10.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average monthly rent in Marion, KS?

Expect rents around $792/mo per month in Marion, KS. With home values at $151K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Which investment style suits Marion, KS?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Marion, KS best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $151K price point.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Marion, KS?

Expect elevated vacancy in Marion, KS. Rents at $792/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What does house hacking look like in Marion, KS?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Marion, KS reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How does Marion, KS rate as a rental market?

Marion, KS scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $151K and rents near $792/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 66861 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66861 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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