What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

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	Freeport
People
Population	21,744Lowest	44,088Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2Highest 6% above NY	40±1.6Lowest about the NY average
	Merrick and Freeport 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%	20%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Merrick and Freeport 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%	15.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2 NY: 7%	5.6%±1 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,740±$13kHighest 116% above NY	$120,625±$11kLowest 40% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,900±$25kHighest 82% above NY	$505,900±$20kLowest 19% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,919±$415Highest 80% above NY	$2,077±$169Lowest 28% above NY
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%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.1%±12Highest NY: 52.1%
	Freeport and Merrick 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%	7.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	36 minLowest 10% above NY
Work from home	24.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%	9.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.