Compare towns
Meredith vs Sheldon vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($202k 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.
| Measure | Meredith | Sheldon | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±2.3 38% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lincoln and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,100±$12kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| 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±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$202,100±$25kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Meredith 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,196±$309 15% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630 16% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,800Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±65 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.