Marathon is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, home to about 234 people across 0.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 50565.
Homes sold for a median of $45 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Marathon. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Marathon’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Marathon well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Des Moines International Airport (DSM)114 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Fort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD)46 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Omaha, NE123 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL379 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Marathon; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Marathon had 230 residents in the 2020 census, down 24% since 2000.
It’s the 670th largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.
Buena Vista County grew from 16,975 residents in 1900 to 20,823 in 2020.
Buena Vista County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 8°F. About 32 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 35 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Sioux Rapids 4 E, IA weather station (5 miles away).
8,855 jobs at 491 businesses in Buena Vista County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Nearest hospitals
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Buying or selling around Marathon? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.