What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jackson has the most people working from home (11.1%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	1,467Lowest	1,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Lowest 36% above NY	56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY
	Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	32.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	1.8%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Jackson 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 about the NY average	$77,375±$8kLowest 10% below NY
	Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kLowest 46% below NY	$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY
	Jackson and Meredith 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	$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Lowest 45% below NY	$4,165Highest 37% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Jackson and Meredith 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%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Jackson 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.