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Compare towns

Marion vs Purvis

99 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+30.6 pts in Marion) and street grid (3× in Purvis).

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Marion, MSOne of the healthiest townsMississippi · 2,030 people
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Purvis, MSA regional job hubMississippi · 1,914 people
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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
Health69% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Marion →
PurvisA regional job hub
Work1,952 jobsbased in Purvis, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 92%of MS districts Outdoors23.2% conserved land0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Purvis →
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.

Growth since 2010+30.6 pts
Marion has grown faster since 2010
Marion +18.4%Purvis -12.2%
Street grid3×
Purvis has the more walkable street grid
Purvis 47.0Marion 15.8
Jobs per worker3.2×
Purvis is more of a job hub
Purvis 2.87Marion 0.89
Conserved land+23.2 pts
Purvis has more conserved land
Purvis 23.2%Marion 0%
Typical home built19 yrs
Purvis’s homes are older
Marion 1998Purvis 1979
Homeowners+11.7 pts renters
Marion has more renters
Purvis 63.7%Marion 52%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $400 more a month in Purvis

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.

Marion$1,030/mo
Typical home $175K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.80% · or rent about $1,057/mo · Housing →
Purvis$1,430/mo
Typical home $241K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.83% · or rent about $939/mo · Housing →

The difference: $400 a month, about $4,800 a year, between Purvis 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

Grades and rankings, side by side

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

Schools
–MarionNot graded APurvisBetter than 92% of districts in the state
Health
CMarionHealthier than 31% of U.S. towns CPurvisHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns
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
MarionPurvis
Snow a year1″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)45th46th
Outdoors & history
MarionPurvis
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—23.2%
Archive photos112
Famous people born here19
Community
MarionPurvis
Library hours a week—50 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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

99 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MarionMSPurvisMS
Marion ↔ Purvis99 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.

MarionPurvis
People
Population 2,030Highest 1,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +18.4%Highest -12.2%Lowest
Median age 27.1±5.1Lowest 30% below MS 31.6±4.2Highest 18% below MS
Purvis and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 39.7%±11.5Highest MS: 23.3% 29.5%±5.2Lowest MS: 23.3%
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 13.5%±1.4Lowest MS: 17.2% 17.5%±3.3Highest MS: 17.2%
Purvis and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.8%Highest MS: 25.1% 22.4%Lowest MS: 25.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.7%±3.7Highest MS: 6.1% 4.2%±3.7Lowest MS: 6.1%
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $46,500±$20kHighest 18% below MS $45,667±$10kLowest 19% below MS
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $193,800±$41kHighest 14% above MS $168,100±$44kLowest about the MS average
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,057±$117Highest 11% above MS $939±$119Lowest about the MS average
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,554Highest 28% above MS $1,395Lowest 15% above MS
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.4%±18.2Lowest MS: 51.3% 60.8%±24.8Highest MS: 51.3%
Purvis and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 21.2%Lowest MS: 18.9% 22.8%Highest MS: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 52%Lowest MS: 70% 63.7%Highest MS: 70%
Typical home builtmedian year 1998Highest 12 yrs newer than MS 1979Lowest 7 yrs older than MS
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minHighest 3% above MS 24 minLowest 5% below MS
Work from home 2.2%±3.1Highest MS: 5.9% 0.8%±1.3Lowest MS: 5.9%
Marion and Purvis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.8%Lowest 11.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 5.8 miLowest 13.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.89Lowest 2.87Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Meridian (54%)Hattiesburg (39%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PurvisFew work in Marion
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 23.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 15.8Lowest 47.0Highest
Schools
School district —Lamar County School District
High school in town —Purvis High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 12.6
Mississippi 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.

Purvis neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 6d

Purvis School Spirit

1 neighbor in Purvis can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Marion and Purvis

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

Bordering Marion

+ Compare
Meridian34,137 people · $108K homes

Towns like Marion

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Poplarville2,847 people · $168K homes
+ Compare
Water Valley3,376 people · $136K homes
+ Compare
Decatur1,929 people · $129K homes
S
+ Compare
Summit2,451 people · $114K homes

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.

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