What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Starks has the most kids (16.4% 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	Ira	Starks
People
Population	381Lowest	556Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	46.7±9.4Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Ira and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Starks and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ira and Starks 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.	$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Ira and Starks 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.	$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S.
	Starks 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.	$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Starks and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Starks 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.