What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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	Mount Tabor
People
Population	1,467Highest	304Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	54.3±4.6Lowest 40% above U.S.	57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S.
	Mount Tabor 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 U.S.: 22%	10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Meredith and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Tabor 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mount Tabor 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±$16k 6% above U.S.	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S.	$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S.	$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S.	$5,233Highest 68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.	46 minHighest 72% above U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.4%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mount Tabor 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.