What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marion	Warner
People
Population	5,310Highest	2,959Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S.	43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Warner and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marion and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marion and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S.	$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S.	$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,176±$516Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S.
	Warner and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,766Lowest 85% above U.S.	$7,650Highest 145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marion and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marion and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#141 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Marion	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.