What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	4,523Highest	1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.2Lowest 23% above U.S.	50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marion and Salisbury 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	$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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.	$306,900±$51kHighest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$639±$394Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average
	Salisbury and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,580Lowest 47% above U.S.	$4,842Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marion and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	5.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	—
School district	MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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.