What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).

Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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	Proctor
People
Population	1,467Lowest	1,794Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S.	42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Proctor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Proctor 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 6% above U.S.	$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Meredith and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kHighest 31% below U.S.	$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Meredith and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S.
	Proctor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S.	$4,032Highest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith and Proctor 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%	16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Meredith and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town	—	Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.7
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.