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Marion vs Lowell

233 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4× in Lowell) and growth since 2010 (+22.9 pts in Lowell).

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Marion, AROne of the healthiest townsArkansas · 13,623 people

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Lowell, ARA regional job hubArkansas · 10,849 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

MarionOne of the healthiest towns

Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 11%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 30%of AR districts All about Marion →

LowellA regional job hub

Work13,541 jobsbased in Lowell, a regional job hub Housing$355K typical home56% above the AR typical home Schools#12 for schools in ARof 113 towns All about Lowell →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker4×

Lowell is more of a job hub

Lowell 2.57Marion 0.65

Growth since 2010+22.9 pts

Lowell has grown faster since 2010

Lowell +34.3%Marion +11.4%

Marion has more miles of trail

Marion 3.5 miLowell 1.4 mi

Home values+34%

Homes cost more in Lowell

Lowell $284,200Marion $212,400

Work from home+8.3 pts

More people work from home in Lowell

Lowell 16%Marion 7.7%

Household income+22%

Households in Lowell earn more

Lowell $95,527Marion $78,330

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $620 more a month in Lowell

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Marion$1,420/mo

Typical home $240K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.79% · or rent about $1,148/mo · Housing →

Lowell$2,030/mo

Typical home $355K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $1,136/mo · Housing →

The difference: $620 a month, about $7,400 a year, between Lowell and Marion.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Lowell places higher on 17 of 22 AR lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Arkansas ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

DMarionSafer than 11% of U.S. towns BLowellSafer than 60% of U.S. towns

Schools

CMarionBetter than 30% of districts in the state A−LowellBetter than 78% of districts in the state

Health

C+MarionHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns B+LowellHealthier than 66% of U.S. towns

5Marion

17Lowell

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Best schoolsSchools · 113 towns #90#12 SafestSafety · 106 towns #77#13 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 127 towns #11#81 Most new homesHousing · 118 towns #64#9 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 127 towns #71#16 Lowest obesityHealth · 127 towns #74#26 Most remote workersWork · 126 towns #47#9 Most walkableOutdoors · 127 towns #111#74

Left end = #1 in Arkansas. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Marion’s rankings →

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

MarionLowell

Snow a year2″10″

January low31°F 24°F

July high91°F 89°F

Growing season (days)235d 195d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)82nd 36th

Outdoors & history

MarionLowell

Trails4 mi 1 mi

Conserved land0.7%0.6%

Settled—1881

National Register places2 3

Archive photos—12

Famous people born here5 —

Community

MarionLowell

Library hours a week41 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

233 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MarionAR LowellAR

Marion ↔ Lowell233 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Arkansas average

MarionLowell

People

Population 13,623Highest 10,849Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +11.4%Lowest AR: +3.3% +34.3%Highest AR: +3.3%

Median age 35.8±2.4Highest 7% below AR 32.3±1.8Lowest 16% below AR

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 28.4%±3Highest AR: 23.1% 27.3%±4.6Lowest AR: 23.1%

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 12.6%±1.6Highest AR: 17.6% 12%±3.6Lowest AR: 17.6%

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.7%Lowest AR: 25.7% 29%Highest AR: 25.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±1.6Highest AR: 5.1% 3.8%±1.6Lowest AR: 5.1%

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $78,330±$9kLowest 29% above AR $95,527±$8kHighest 57% above AR

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $212,400±$12kLowest 13% above AR $284,200±$17kHighest 51% above AR

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,148±$51Highest 21% above AR $1,136±$62Lowest 20% above AR

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,686Highest 62% above AR $1,642Lowest 58% above AR

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.9%±8.3Highest AR: 44.8% 27.1%±13.3Lowest AR: 44.8%

Marion and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 8.6%Highest AR: 16% 6.9%Lowest AR: 16%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 71.6%Highest AR: 66.4% 70.2%Lowest AR: 66.4%

Typical home builtmedian year 1999Lowest 12 yrs newer than AR 2000Highest 13 yrs newer than AR

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 22 minHighest about the AR average 20 minLowest 9% below AR

Work from home 7.7%±2.3Lowest AR: 8.8% 16%±5.4Highest AR: 8.8%

Work in townworking residents 14.8%Highest 9.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miHighest 6.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.65Lowest 2.57Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Memphis (31%)Rogers (22%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LowellFew work in Marion

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Highest 0.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 3.5 miHighest 1.4 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 3Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 24.3Lowest 39.8Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #90 of 113 in AR #12 of 113 in AR

School district MARION SCHOOL DISTRICTROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT

High school in town Marion High SchoolNone in town

Students per teacherat that high school 10.2 —

Arkansas average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Marion neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Marion’s Town Square.

Lowell neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lowell’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Marion and Lowell

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Marion

West Memphis23,929 people · $120K homes

Clarkedale468 people · $307K homes

Towns like Marion

Greenwood9,616 people · $183K homes

Cabot26,960 people · $207K homes

Van Buren23,763 people · $182K homes

Pea Ridge8,108 people · $298K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Arkansas towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.