Signals
Lakeland
Marion
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs53 · Bottom 43%
Climate
68 · Bottom 40%
vs68 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 41%
vs33 · Bottom 26%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 18%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs94 · Top 43%
Economic stability
76 · Top 14%
vs71 · Top 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Lakeland | Marion | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,192 | 13,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $78,330 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $56,035 | $37,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 604/sq mi | 672/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $388,900 | $212,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,755 | $1,148 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 71.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | 1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.1% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.2% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 54.9" | 50.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 23.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lakeland
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Marion
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Lakeland, TN · Marion, AR · How this is calculated: methodology