$213,333Average Value$127Average Price per Sq Ft19Homes For Sale
Jasper County township containing the county seat
Indiana’s Marion Township is one of Jasper County's 13 townships with just under 6,700 people, most of whom live in the town center of Rensselaer. The seat of Jasper County works as a home base for this more remote part of northwest Indiana. “We have your pharmacy, your retail shops, your Walmart,” says Noelle Weishaar, a lifelong local with Jenkins Realtors. “We draw people in from the rest of the township and the whole county.” This city is home to the limestone, Tudor-style Jasper County Courthouse and REN ART WLK, an infusion of public art with murals, sculptures and more along downtown walking trails. "People are coming from out of town to see the art," says Melissa Smith, a genealogy specialist at the Rensselaer Library. "Many people donated to the project, and the community loved it." The Jasper County Fairgrounds come alive once a summer on the west side of the township.
Many Marion residents work at the local Conagra Brands plant, which produces popcorn for brands like Orville Redenbacher and Angie’s. Donaldson’s Filtration Solutions, the local school district and the Rensselaer branch of Franciscan Health are also major employers. With Interstate 65 running directly west of Marion, folks have a straight shot to more populated areas of the region and routes to the Windy City.
Older homes at the center of town, newer additions and rare farmhouses
Sidewalks line the streets of Rensselaer, where homes with smaller lots mix with local churches and businesses. Cape Cods and cottages, Folk-style homes with large front porches and American Foursquares are common, and some have been converted into multifamily properties. Ranch-style homes and split-levels with two-car garages are farther out from the center, and commercial or residential land parcels also hit the market frequently. All homes in Rensselaer have city-owned utilities. Options outside the town center include farmhouses and ranch-style homes, along with the occasional tract of land that can span dozens of acres; however, these rarely go on sale. Prices throughout the township typically range from $50,000 to $300,000, with homes sold as-is in need of repairs on the low end, and new construction or larger properties from the early 1900s on the high end.
Homes in Marion vary from colonials to ranch style houses.
Marion features a variety of ranch homes at an affordable cost.
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Brookside Park, Bazz's Roller Rink and other Rensselaer recreation
Outside of Rensselaer, most open land in Marion Township is privately owned. Bicentennial Park, Iroquois Park and Potawatomi Park are all on the west side of the city center and linked together with a walking trail along the Iroquois River. “We’re working on making some longer trails and connecting the parks in different counties going north and south,” Weishaar says. “It’s a big dream that’s going to take some time.” Brookside Park includes an athletics complex with updated softball and baseball fields, along with new concession facilities. “People come from all over play in baseball tournaments there,” Weishaar says. Soccer games take place on Saturday mornings at Foundation Park. Though the Ritz Historic Cinema is now closed, Fountain Stone Theaters plays on five screens daily. Bazz's Roller Rink has been open on Friday and Saturday nights for over 70 years.
Brookside Park is a large park in Marion, featuring several sport fields and a playground.
Marion movie enthusiast can visit the Fountain Stone Theaters, an independent cinema.
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Gearing up for the Jasper County Fair
Rensselaer Public Library is a community meeting space for activities like Dungeons & Dragons, Bingo and story times for little ones. JC Cruisers—Rensselaer's own classic car club—hosts an Annual Cruise Night at Brookside Park in the summer. Onlookers bring cash or canned food donations, enter to win door prizes and peruse craft and flea market booths. Marion Township residents mark July on their calendars for Jasper County Fair, which has fair food like grilled sweet corn, a demolition derby, 4H Club animal displays and competitions, live music and carnival rides.
Downtown Rensselaer's local shopping and dining
The gridded streets of downtown Rensselaer are home to locally owned businesses splashed with murals. "Downtown has done a great job bringing in more stores and restaurants, it helps people want to come here," Smith says. eMbers Station Bistro & Bar serves wood-fired pizzas and other pub favorites, while Fenwicks Farms Brewing Company is the city’s first brewery, celebrating its 3-year anniversary in 2024. Save-A-Lot, Dollar Tree and O'Reilly Auto Parts are located on College Avenue, while Strack & Van Til Food Market and Walmart share a parking lot a bit farther south.
Enjoy a well cooked meal at eMbers Station Bistro & Bar near Marion.
Fenwick Farms Brewing Company is a local pub in Marion is great for socializing.
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Amtrak, I-65 and South Shore Line connections
Residents without a car can schedule in advance with the Jasper County Community Service bus, which delivers riders door-to-door. Amtrak’s Cardinal line stops at Rensselaer Station. “I know people here take the train into Chicago,” Weishaar says. “As a kid, I would take the train to Indy for a weekend.” It’s a fair distance on U.S. Route 231 or Interstate 65 larger Indiana cities – 44 miles north to Merrillville and 42.5 south to Lafayette. While transiting pilots fuel up at Jasper County Airport just outside the town center, most travelers head to either Chicago Midway International Airport or Indianapolis International Airport. “I fly out of either one, whichever has nonstop options,” Weishaar says. “It's nice to be able to search both.” Franciscan Health Rensselaer has an emergency room and beds, but folks head to Merrillville or Lafayette for major surgery, Weishaar says.
Taking the bus to Rensselaer-local schools
Marion Township is served by the Rensselaer Central Schools Corporation, and all schools are on the east side of town along Melville Street. Each offers eLearning options for weather make-up days or canceled school days. "It's all centrally located, and I feel like they do a great job, seeing as we are a smaller district," Smith says. Rensselaer Central Primary School serves prekindergarten through second grade and scores a B-minus from Niche, while Van Rensselaer Elementary School scores a B-plus for Grades 3 through 5. Rensselaer Central Middle School also gets a B-plus, and Rensselaer Central High School gets a B-minus. Graduates are selected by the College Board National Recognition Program for Rural and Small-Town scholars, in addition to First Generation scholars and National Hispanic scholars. A Romanesque chapel towers over the south side of town at Saint Joseph's College, a private Catholic institution Rensselaer campus. The school has partially reopened after closing in 2017, and today offers in-person, online and hybrid courses and certifications in business management, cybersecurity and health science.
Marion students attend high school at Rensselaer Central High School.
Van Rensselaer Elementary is a well rated public school that serves Marion students.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nickolas Witvoet,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Potawatomi Park
Brook Side Park
Columbia Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Marion
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Marion, Rensselaer sell after 71 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Marion, Rensselaer over the last 12 months is $208,652, up 3% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This Beautifully maintained and Updated traditional four square home is a must see! The large front entrance welcomes you with traditional Oak woodwork, bench, open stairway and floor. The formal living room and dining room with oak hardwood floors are cozy yet have plenty of room for your next gathering. The kitchen with new floor, huge island and all appliances flows to the addition which
***Do you need a heated garage that offers ample space for vehicles, toys, storage and a workshop?*** This Awesome Ranch home has just that! The 30 x 40 Heated Garage is just one of the bonus' of this Beautiful Ranch! This home is the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. The Beautifully Updated Kitchen shines with Granite Counters and Stainless Appliances, the Living Room and Dining Room
Great 2 story home with 1908sq' has open stairway at the front door that leads to 2 upper bedrooms and a large dormer closet for plenty of storage. The 1st floor primary bedroom with access to the 1 full bath with laundry closet also boast a 13.5 x 8 walk in closet and 2 more closets. The large kitchen at the back of home has plenty of room for an oversized dining table plus glass door to the 24
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nickolas Witvoet,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
6,790
Median Age
40
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
25.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$58,763
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$68,801
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87%
College Graduates
16.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.5%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
40''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
25/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
