What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Jefferson	Meredith
People
Population	1,226Lowest	1,467Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.9±5.2Lowest 35% above NY	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY
	Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9%	30.8%±4 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average
	Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 56% below NY	$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY
	Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$794±$175 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Lowest 45% below NY	$3,630Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	53.1%±53.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jefferson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	92.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 3% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jefferson 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.