What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrick has the most affordable homes ($772k median).

Garden City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Garden City
People
Population	21,744Lowest	22,941Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2Highest 6% above NY	41.3±1Lowest 4% above NY
	Merrick and Garden City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.4%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Garden City and Merrick 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%	17.4%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Merrick and Garden City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	75.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2Lowest NY: 7%	11.6%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,740±$13kLowest 116% above NY	$244,152±$13kHighest 184% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,900±$25kLowest 82% above NY	$1,075,900±$48kHighest 154% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,919±$415Lowest 80% above NY	$3,265±$744Highest 101% above NY
	Garden City and Merrick 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%±28Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Garden City 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%	3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	93.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	35 minLowest 7% above NY
Work from home	24.5%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%	27.7%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Garden City and Merrick 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.