What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Merrick has the most affordable homes ($676k 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	Merrick	North Merrick
People
Population	21,744Highest	12,366Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3% NY: +4.2%	-0.3% NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±2Lowest 6% above NY	42.8±1.9Highest 8% above NY
	North Merrick 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%	22.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Merrick and North Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.2%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	North Merrick and Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	54%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2Highest NY: 7%	5.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Merrick and North 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	$161,554±$18kLowest 88% above NY
	Merrick and North Merrick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,900±$25kHighest 82% above NY	$675,800±$15kLowest 59% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,919±$415Highest 80% above NY	$2,906±$320Lowest 79% above NY
	Merrick and North 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%	71.9%±74.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	North Merrick 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%	3.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	94.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 18% above NY	36 minLowest 11% above NY
Work from home	24.5%±4Highest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±3.5Lowest 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.