Compare towns
Howard vs Ira vs Avoca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howard has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Avoca has the most affordable homes ($105k 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.
| Measure | Howard | Ira | Avoca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,254 |
381Lowest |
2,340Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -12.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.1 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ira and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avoca and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,906±$5kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$67,730±$9kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Howard and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $128,100±$25k 61% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$104,700±$8kLowest 69% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$242Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$942±$52Highest 33% below U.S. |
$781±$164 45% below U.S. |
| Ira and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,605 16% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,106Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.9%±64.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avoca and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Avoca and Howard 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 | 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.