What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marion has the most affordable homes ($180k median).

Berlin has the most people working from home (11.7%).

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	Berlin
People
Population	4,523Highest	2,880Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.2Lowest 23% above U.S.	50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S.
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,469±$12kLowest about the U.S. average	$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$180,300±$27kLowest 46% below U.S.	$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$639±$394Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S.
	Berlin and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,580Highest 47% above U.S.	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marion and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	5.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Berlin and Marion 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	#194 of 484 in NY	#16 of 70 in VT
School district	MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	MARION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
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.