What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Merrick has the most people working from home (24.5%).

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	Bellmore	Merrick
People
Population	15,954Lowest	21,744Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.3±1.8Highest 6% above NY	42±2Lowest 6% above NY
	Bellmore and Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.4%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.4%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	64.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	5.6%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Bellmore and Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$161,674±$8kLowest 88% above NY	$185,740±$13kHighest 116% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$681,800±$26kLowest 61% above NY	$771,900±$25kHighest 82% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,160±$979Lowest 33% above NY	$2,919±$415Highest 80% above NY
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±19.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.2%±28Highest NY: 52.1%
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest NY: 14%	2.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 1 yr older than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 5% above NY	39 minHighest 18% above NY
Work from home	18.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	24.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.