RANK #732 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 18 OR · POP 349,244
1YR FORECAST: -1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Silver Falls State Park, often called the "crown jewel" of Oregon's state parks, is a notable feature of Marion County, Oregon, located in the heart of the Willamette Valley. The county seat, Salem, is also the state capital and one of the valley's oldest cities. Marion County stretches from the Willamette River to the Cascade Mountains, covering nearly 1,200 square miles. Most residents can reach the Pacific beaches in under two hours. The region offers extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, biking, and boating, with numerous parks, rivers, and lakes. The Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park is a popular hiking destination.
Life in Marion County is characterized by a mix of urban and rural living options. The county's economy is supported by agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and the public sector, with the state of Oregon being a major employer due to Salem's status as the capital. Recent economic developments include efforts to expand rural broadband connectivity and support local businesses, including those in manufacturing and food processing. Commute options within the county and to nearby areas are available through Cherriots Regional bus services. The county also has a variety of public and private K-12 schools and several higher education institutions within a 30-mile radius.
Marion County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.2% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 12.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (PDX8)
Amazon
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Proposed Data Center Campus
Undisclosed (Stream Data Center mentioned in news)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Marion County Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., Bighorn Solar, Adapture Renewables, Neighborhood Power Corp.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 26/100, Marion County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $77,351 combined with job growth of +2.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Marion County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $416,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,414/month on average.
Marion County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.5% clip. Home values shifted +0.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.84% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Marion County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.