What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the most people working from home (7.1%).

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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	Ashford	Ira
People
Population	1,834Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	52.3±6.9Lowest 34% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	Ira and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ira and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,558±$11kHighest 4% below U.S.	$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Ashford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$194,600±$43kLowest 42% below U.S.	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$654±$132Lowest 54% below U.S.	$942±$52Highest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,079Lowest 31% above U.S.	$4,146Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.4%±79.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ira and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashford and Ira 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

U.S. 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.