What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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	Waltham
People
Population	1,467Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	54.3±4.6Lowest 40% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham 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%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Meredith and Waltham 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%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham 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±$16kLowest 6% above U.S.	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
	Waltham 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±$24kLowest 31% below U.S.	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S.	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith and Waltham 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
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.