What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Western has the most people working from home (5.1%).

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	Western
People
Population	381Lowest	1,839Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	48±6Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Ira and Western 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%	22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Western 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%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Western and Ira 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.	$88,964±$16kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Western and Ira 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.	$237,800±$69kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,024±$178Highest 28% below U.S.
	Western 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.	$4,930Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Western 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%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Western 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.