2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Marion, IA vs Decatur, IL

#18 Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S. (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#65 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Smallest Metro Areas)

#84 Best Green Cities

#87 America's Most (and Least) Stressful Cities (117 Smallest Metro Areas)

#207 2005 Best Places to Live

#22 America's Most (and Least) Stressful Cities (117 Smallest Metro Areas)

#59 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Smallest Metro Areas)

#104 2005 Best Places to Live

#301 Best Green Cities

I've lived in Marion for ~22 years now, and it has its pros (+) and cons (-): + Marion is one of the safest places to live in the country. + The cost of living vs  More

Marion is clean, affordable and has one of the lowest crime rates in the state. The people here are friendly and helpful. Marion shares a border with Cedar Rapids  More

Marion is one of the fastest growing communities in Iowa. We have a highly educated workforce, affordable housing, low crime and excellent education. Plus, there is much  More

I was sent here by the company I worked for in the '90's and was not initially impressed with midwest living. However, over the years I got used to living in the "Pride  More

I grew up in Decatur and I still have family there, but it depresses me to see what it has become. It has a high unemployment rate, many business have closed or are run  More

If you enjoy drinking & driving, Decatur's fifteen drive-thru liquor windows, three times the # of drive-thru's than the ten largest cities in Illinois, COMBINED, will  More