What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the highest household income ($86k).

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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	Meredith	Derby Line
People
Population	1,467Highest	783Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S.	46.7±13.3Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Meredith and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derby Line and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Meredith and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby Line and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S.	$71,518±$25kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Meredith and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kHighest 31% below U.S.	$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S.
	Meredith and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S.	$835±$334Highest 41% below U.S.
	Derby Line and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Highest 16% above U.S.	$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby Line 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

U.S. 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.