What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrick has the most people working from home (24.5%).

Bellmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

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	Merrick	Bellmore
People
Population	21,744Highest	15,954Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2Lowest 6% above NY	42.3±1.8Highest 6% above NY
	Bellmore and Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%	15.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	56.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Bellmore and Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,740±$13kHighest 116% above NY	$161,674±$8kLowest 88% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,900±$25kHighest 82% above NY	$681,800±$26kLowest 61% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,919±$415Highest 80% above NY	$2,160±$979Lowest 33% above NY
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±28Highest NY: 52.1%	44.7%±19.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Merrick and Bellmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest NY: 14%	3.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1958Highest 1 yr older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	34 minLowest 5% above NY
Work from home	24.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%	18.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Merrick and Bellmore 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.