What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cato has the most people working from home (11.2%).

Ira has the most kids (20.2% under 18).

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	Cato	Ira
People
Population	2,542Highest	2,019Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.7±4Highest 22% above NY	42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY
	Cato and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ira and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	19%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Ira and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,760±$11kLowest 7% below NY	$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY
	Ira and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,600±$6kHighest 60% below NY	$158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY
	Cato and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$425 42% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 54% below NY	$3,594Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±23.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	14.3%±35.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ira and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest NY: 14%	4.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cato and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.