What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (7%).

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lancaster	Ira
People
Population	10,113Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	Ira and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.	$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Ira and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S.	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Highest 31% below U.S.	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 58% above U.S.	$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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.