What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the most expensive homes ($231k median).

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($155k 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	Worcester
People
Population	1,467Lowest	2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY
	Meredith and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%
	Worcester 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	$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY
	Meredith and Worcester 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	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Highest 51% below NY	$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY
	Meredith and Worcester 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	$2,602Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Meredith 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%	21.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Meredith and Worcester 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.