City Comparison
Dubuque vs Marion
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Marion scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Dubuque
Marion
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dubuque is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Marion.
Housing costs are a major driver: Dubuque's average rent is
24% lower than Marion's.
| Metric | Dubuque | Marion | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,250 | -24% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,150 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 89 | 93 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Marion offers 15% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Marion delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Dubuque is estimated at
$48,000 vs $52,000 in Marion.
| Metric | Dubuque | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,169 idx | 73,118 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $84,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Marion sees 2.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Dubuque | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.40°F | 50.90°F |
| Summer High | 81.40°F | 81.70°F |
| Winter Low | 14.30°F | 14.40°F |
| Rainfall | 32.70 in | 35.10 in |
| Snowfall | 21.70 in | 24.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 | 265 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Dubuque scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Dubuque | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Dubuque is the larger city
— approximately 1.4x the population of Marion.
From a growth perspective, Marion is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Dubuque | Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,384 | 42,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 1.50% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 38.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dubuque
Advantages
Median home prices in Dubuque remain significantly more affordable than the national average per the National Association of Realtors.
Exceptional outdoor recreation access, highlighted by the 1,439-acre Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.
Robust regional healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne Dubuque and UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital.
Consistently lower violent and property crime rates compared to national benchmarks per FBI crime data.
Vibrant historic downtown and Port of Dubuque district offering diverse dining, arts, and cultural attractions.
Drawbacks
Cold and snowy winter conditions can create challenging commuting and outdoor circumstances.
Limited commercial flight options directly out of Dubuque Regional Airport require travel to larger hubs like Chicago or Cedar Rapids.
Public transit options outside of core fixed bus routes are somewhat limited for suburban commuters.
Wages in certain sectors may lag behind fast-growing coastal metropolitan markets.
Limited racial and ethnic diversity compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Marion
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain below the national average per Census and Zillow data.
Exceptional public school performance across the Marion Independent and Linn-Mar Community School Districts.
Consistently low crime rates and high community safety rankings relative to national standards.
Robust local economy anchored by the Cedar Rapids metropolitan employment and industrial base.
Extensive park system and growing recreational trail network, including the CeMar Trail connection.
Drawbacks
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high reliance on personal automobiles.
Iowa state property tax rates can be relatively high for homeowners compared to other states.
Winter weather conditions bring cold temperatures and significant snowfall averaging 24 inches annually.
Housing inventory for first-time buyers can experience tight competition during peak spring and summer markets.
Limited late-night entertainment and nightlife options compared to larger metropolitan centers.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Dubuque
#112Iowa, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
76
Business
70
Marion
#21Iowa, USA
73.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
93
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
265/yr
Avg Temp
50.90°F
Pop. Growth
1.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
82
Business
75
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