Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Purvis vs Marion

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

×
Purvis, MSA regional job hubMississippi · 1,914 people
×
Marion, MSOne of the healthiest townsMississippi · 2,030 people
Swap order
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.

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 →
MarionOne of the healthiest towns
Health69% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Marion →
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.

Purvis$1,430/mo
Typical home $241K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.83% · or rent about $939/mo · Housing →
Marion$1,030/mo
Typical home $175K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.80% · or rent about $1,057/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
APurvisBetter than 92% of districts in the state –MarionNot graded
Health
CPurvisHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns CMarionHealthier than 31% 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
PurvisMarion
Snow a year0″1″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)46th45th
Outdoors & history
PurvisMarion
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land23.2%—
Archive photos121
Famous people born here91
Community
PurvisMarion
Library hours a week50 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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.

PurvisMSMarionMS
Purvis ↔ Marion99 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.

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

Purvis neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 6d

Purvis School Spirit

1 neighbor in Purvis can answer.

Marion neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Marion’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Purvis and Marion

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

Towns like Purvis

P
+ Compare
Pelahatchie1,423 people · $158K homes
+ Compare
Tylertown2,024 people · $117K homes
S
+ Compare
Shannon1,383 people · $131K homes
C
+ Compare
Caledonia1,414 people · $203K 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.

Post to Purvis

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in