What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).

Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

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	Minerva
People
Population	1,467Highest	836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Lowest 36% above NY	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY
	Minerva 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%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Meredith and Minerva 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%	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Minerva 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%	28.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Minerva 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	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Meredith and Minerva 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	$171,800±$22kLowest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Highest 51% below NY	$784±$102Lowest 52% below NY
	Meredith and Minerva 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	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith and Minerva 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%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva 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.