What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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	Franklin	Meredith
People
Population	2,359Highest	1,467Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.2±4.1Lowest 31% above NY	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY
	Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.6%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±5.8 NY: 17.9%	30.8%±4 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Franklin and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,323±$6kLowest 25% below NY	$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average
	Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,600±$23kLowest 50% below NY	$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY
	Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$803±$129Highest 50% below NY	$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY
	Franklin and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,332Lowest 49% below NY	$3,630Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.9%±21.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	10.7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Franklin and Meredith 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.