What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montgomery has the most people working from home (9.4%).

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	Montgomery	Ira
People
Population	796Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.9%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,000±$19kHighest 52% above U.S.	$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,500±$29kHighest 7% above U.S.	$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$942±$52 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,283Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Montgomery 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.