05/18/2026
I was so happy to attend the State of Marion this morning!
Thank you to the 2026 Women’s Council of Realtors Board and Strategic Partners for hosting such a wonderful event filled with valuable information, insight, and inspiration.
A special thank you as well to all the amazing panelists for sharing your knowledge and expertise!
Marion County & Ocala Market Briefing
Summary of the Women's Council of Realtors (WCR) Morning Meeting
📈 Economic Growth & Population (CEP Report)
• Population Surge: Marion County experienced a 3.4% population growth from 2024 to 2025.
• Affordability Ranking: Ocala maintains its massive competitive edge, ranking as the #1 Most Affordable Metro City in Florida.
• Infrastructure & Urban Footprint: 50% of the designated urban area is now built out. Meanwhile, logistics and transit remain massive, with 70% of the traffic on I-75 consisting of commercial trucks.
• Labor Market: The local unemployment rate currently sits at 5.6%.
🏡 Real Estate & New Construction (Property Appraiser Jimmy Cowan)
• New Construction Volume: The county saw an incredible 224,777 new construction units/assessments added to the footprint.
• Historical Appreciation: Home values have shown incredible long-term strength.
• 2009 Average Home Sale: $166,447
• 2025 Average Home Sale: $322,712 (An
appreciation of nearly 94% over the 16-year span).
🛡️ Public Safety & Transit Population (Chief of Police & Sheriff's Report)
• Falling Crime Rates: Despite rapid population growth, overall crime dropped by 5% in 2024.
• 2020 Total Crimes: 12,000
• 2025 Total Crimes: 11,500
• Data-Driven Policing: The Ocala Police Department is utilizing advanced, new intelligence-led policing strategies to proactively target and fight crime.
• Daily Call Volume: The department handles massive community outreach, averaging roughly 2,400 calls per day in 2024, adjusting slightly to 2,064 calls per day going into 2025.
• The "Summer Effect": Historically, data shows a slight, predictable tick upward in minor property or juvenile crimes during the summer months when school is out of session.
• The True Population (In-Transit Hub): While Marion County has a massive resident footprint, the police department manages a daily influx of 450,000 people moving through Ocala, which includes a regular average of 200,000 daily visitors/commuters transiting the city.
🌪️ Disaster Readiness & Emergency Management
• Sheriff’s Office Command: The Marion County Sheriff's Office pulling double duty as the head of Emergency Management ensures a seamless transition of resources during the Atlantic hurricane season.
• Strategic Hub: Ocala serves as a major logistical staging area and help hub for the state of Florida during natural disasters, utilizing vast local resources to support recovery efforts.
Ocala is one of the Best place !