What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lincoln has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Lincoln
People
Population	1,467Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY	53.6±2.3Lowest 35% 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	17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%	15.3%±2.5Lowest 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+	30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	29.4%±3.8Lowest 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+	33.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	34.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,938±$16kLowest about the NY average	$96,100±$12kHighest 12% above NY
	Lincoln 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	$202,100±$25kLowest 52% 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	$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY	$1,196±$309Highest 26% 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	$3,630Lowest 45% below NY	$3,800Highest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%	47.2%±65Lowest 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	7.4%Highest NY: 14%	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	7.4%±2.4Lowest 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 Our Story	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.