What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has the most people working from home (3.7%).

Ira has the most affordable 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	Lyman	Ira
People
Population	464Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Lowest 39% above U.S.
	Lyman and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyman and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ira and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,042±$17kLowest 12% below U.S.	$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Ira and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,100±$66kHighest 6% below U.S.	$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Lyman and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$81Highest 19% below U.S.	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,981Lowest 28% above U.S.	$4,146Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyman and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	3.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyman 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.