What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Grafton has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Grafton
People
Population	1,467Lowest	1,859Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY	52.4±6.9Lowest 32% above NY
	Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Grafton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	20%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	33%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	1.5%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Grafton 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±$16kLowest about the NY average	$100,809±$24kHighest 17% above NY
	Grafton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY	$216,800±$39kLowest 49% below NY
	Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY	$1,112±$329Highest 31% below NY
	Grafton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Highest 45% below NY	$3,452Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%	7.5%±46.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Meredith and Grafton 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.