What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln 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	Lincoln	Meredith
People
Population	1,749Highest	1,467Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.6±2.3Lowest 35% above NY	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY
	Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,100±$12kHighest 12% above NY	$85,938±$16kLowest about the NY average
	Lincoln and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,100±$25kLowest 52% below NY	$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY
	Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$309Highest 26% below NY	$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY
	Lincoln and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,800Highest 42% below NY	$3,630Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±65Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	7.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	92.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	7.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Meredith and Lincoln 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.