What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

West Monroe has the most people working from home (8.1%).

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	West Monroe
People
Population	381Lowest	4,060Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	46.3±4.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Ira and West Monroe 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	West Monroe 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%	17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ira and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.	$90,558±$11kHighest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.	$185,100±$19kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,051±$342Highest 26% below U.S.
	West Monroe and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S.	$4,333Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Monroe 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
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.