CallataGuidesMarion, NC business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Marion, NC micropolitan area.
- Population
- 45,2692024 est.
- Establishments
- 822CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 1
About the Marion, NC micropolitan area
The Marion, NC micropolitan area covers 1 county in North Carolina and had 45,269 residents in July 2024, up 1.5% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 656th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 754th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| McDowell County, NC | 45,269 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Establishments and employment in Marion, NC
County Business Patterns counted 822 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 13,495 people in mid-March with $630.6 million in annual payroll. That is an average of 16.4 employees per establishment. 53.2% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (131), construction (106), and health care and social assistance (102).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 131 | 1,893 | $58,149,000 |
| Construction (23) | 106 | 753 | $46,834,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 102 | 1,382 | $75,381,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 91 | 570 | $20,093,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 89 | 1,332 | $27,603,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 56 | 461 | $14,693,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 48 | 5,947 | $332,287,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 40 | 200 | $8,845,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 36 | 69 | $2,421,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 33 | 130 (high noise) | $7,800,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 25 | 239 (high noise) | $13,231,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 19 | 141 | $8,663,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 15 | 186 | $4,257,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 7 | 58 | $3,462,000 |
| Information (51) | 7 | 46 (high noise) | $2,623,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 6 | 17 (high noise) | $362,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 5 | 45 (high noise) | $1,004,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 3 | 20 (high noise) | $2,341,000 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023, two-digit NAICS sectors. Manufacturing, retail and transportation span several two-digit codes; CBP reports them under 31, 44 and 48.
Marion, NC compared with the U.S.
Marion, NC has 18.2 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 26.1% below the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 16.4 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $46,727 (31.6% below the U.S. $68,342). 53.2% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 4.1% have 50 or more. Averages are pulled up by large employers; the size table is the better guide to what a typical business here looks like.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 437 | 53.2% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 151 | 18.4% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 115 | 14.0% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 84 | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 34 | 4.1% | 5.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Small-business industries in Marion, NC
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 44 have a published Census count in Marion, NC. The largest are limited-service restaurants (34), full-service restaurants (30), and physician practices (23). Relative to population, site preparation contractors are the most over-represented: 28.7 per 100,000 residents against 12.3 nationally.
| Industry | Establishments | Employees | Employees per establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited-service restaurants | 34 | 717 | 21.1 |
| Full-service restaurants | 30 | 387 | 12.9 |
| Physician practices | 23 | — | — |
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors | 16 | 139 | 8.7 |
| Landscaping services | 16 | 45 | 2.8 |
| Electrical contractors | 14 | 44 | 3.1 |
| Residential remodelers | 14 | 27 | 1.9 |
| Offices of real estate agents and brokers | 13 | — | — |
| Site preparation contractors | 13 | 133 | 10.2 |
| Janitorial services | 13 | 55 | 4.2 |
| New single-family housing construction contractors | 12 | 31 | 2.6 |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 10 | — | — |
| Automotive parts and accessories stores | 10 | 99 | 9.9 |
| Dental offices | 7 | 65 | 9.3 |
| Assisted living facilities for the elderly | 7 | 114 | 16.3 |
| Offices of certified public accountants | 7 | — | — |
| General automotive repair shops | 7 | — | — |
| Physical, occupational and speech therapy clinics | 6 | — | — |
| Agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | 6 | 83 | 13.8 |
| Residential property managers | 6 | — | — |
| All other specialty trade contractors | 6 | — | — |
| Tire dealers | 6 | 30 | 5.0 |
| Hotels and motels | 6 | 75 | 12.5 |
| Supermarkets and grocery stores | 6 | 419 | 69.8 |
| Temporary help services | 6 | 255 | 42.5 |
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Which area codes serve Marion, NC
The area's named cities and towns have 15 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 1 area code; 828 has the most (100%). A local number in the code your customers know is the simplest signal that you are nearby; Callata's plan includes up to 3.
| Area code | Exchanges in named places | Share | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 828 | 15 | 100% | Eastern |
Exchanges in rate centers matched to Census places in the area. Source: NANPA.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 1 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, NC | 7,534 | 828 | 13 |
Phone costs for a typical Marion, NC business
A 16-person team is the benchmark here, the rounded average establishment size in Marion, NC. Billed per seat at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026), RingCentral RingEX Core costs $480.00 a month and Ooma Office Pro $399.20. On Callata the same 16 people cost $319.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Callata in Marion, NC
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Marion, NC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
What area codes serve Marion, NC?
828, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Marion, NC area?
822 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Marion, NC?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 16-person team that is $319.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $399.20 a month (checked September 28, 2026).