Compare towns
Jefferson vs Otsego vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Otsego | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,226Lowest |
3,627Highest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% NY: +4.2% |
-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.9±5.2 35% above NY |
52.1±5.8Lowest 31% 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%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Otsego and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
53.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
33.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.9 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,083±$9kLowest 22% below NY |
$72,891±$16k 15% below NY |
$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average |
| Meredith and Otsego 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 |
$352,600±$42kHighest 17% below NY |
$230,600±$24k 46% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,205±$165Highest 26% below NY |
$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,602Lowest 45% below NY |
$4,702Highest 29% below NY |
$3,630 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
30.6%±17.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±53.6 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% |
6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest NY: 54.3% |
70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 3% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
19.9%±9.2 NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Jefferson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #65 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.