What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).

Plattsburgh has the most people working from home (7.6%).

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	Ira	Plattsburgh
People
Population	381Lowest	11,830Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	45.2±1.9Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ira and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S.	$71,546±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Ira and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.	$179,900±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,053±$86Highest 25% below U.S.
	Plattsburgh and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,146Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,573Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.9%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plattsburgh and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	7.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plattsburgh and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.