Marathon today
What this means
Values in Marathon are still rising: +1.6% in the past year.
A specific house can rent above or below these figures, so pull rental comps for the address. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Marathon | vs Monroe County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,060 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | 3.3% | +6.3 pts | -5.6 pts |
| Median home value | $725,800 | 7% lower | 102% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,633 | 18% lower | 2% lower |
| Median household income | $89,355 | 2% higher | 20% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 60.2% | -5.6 pts | -7.4 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 20.8% | -3.9 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 14 | 30% lower | 51% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 17.5% | +7.0 pts | +3.3 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $3,995 | 3% lower | 46% higher |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Marathon
Middle Keys city halfway between Key West and Key Largo, incorporated in 1999, with an ocean based economy.
Marathon is a city with its own government, located in Monroe County.
Known for: Crane Point Museum; The Turtle Hospital; Florida Keys Marathon Airport
Getting around and growth: US 1, the Overseas Highway, links it to Key West and Miami.
Next to the rest of Monroe County, Census median rent runs lower ($1,633 vs $1,999 countywide); commutes are shorter (14 vs 20 minutes); it grew faster than the county since 2020 (3.3% vs -3%) and housing is newer (17.5% built since 2010 vs 10.5%).
Cities with similar prices and rents: Winter Park ($731,400, $1,738), Treasure Island ($621,600, $1,631), Indian Rocks Beach ($738,800, $1,863).
Growth and housing
Marathon changed 3.3% in population from 2020 to 2025 (county -3%, Florida 8.9%).
| 2025 building permits | Marathon |
|---|---|
| Single family | 35 |
| 5 or more units | 0 |
| Total units | 35 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 3.5 |
Median year built: 1982. The housing mix is 48.7% detached houses and 19.9% larger buildings. Average household size is 2.45.
5% of residents moved in from another state in the past year (county 3%).
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $7,863 a year |
| Hurricanes tied to Monroe County since 2000 | Irma (2017) |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
Insurers will want a four point inspection on most older homes here (45.8% predate 1980). Inspections
Large buildings hold 10% of homes here; read the reserve study before buying a condo. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
Marathon has its own flood program rating: CRS class 6, which takes 20% off federal flood premiums in high risk zones. Insured homes in the city filed 2,508 flood claims since 2000, with $108,725,027 paid. Countywide, 89.4% of homes sit in a FEMA high risk zone; the Monroe County guide has the full flood, storm and jobs picture.
Buying a home in Marathon
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $990,150 |
| Conforming, one unit | $990,150 |
| Median home value here | $725,800 |
Homes cost 8.1 times median household income here (Monroe County 8.9, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the most common loan in Monroe County.
- FHA: the Marathon median of $725,800 fits under the $990,150 limit.
Investing in Marathon
Long term rentals
| Marathon | vs Monroe County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 39.8% | +5.6 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 20.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 33.5% | -3.6 pts |
Short term rentals
Vacation demand is real here, with 23.4% of homes held for seasonal use, and so is the competition.
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 5% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Confirm zoning, registration and HOA rules for the exact address. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 48.7% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 19.9% |
| Manufactured homes | 13.4% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.