What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).

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	Nanticoke	Ira
People
Population	1,683Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.5±6.4Lowest 7% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.8%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 Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.	$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Ira and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S.	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S.	$942±$52Highest 33% below U.S.
	Ira and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,171Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,146Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±37.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nanticoke and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nanticoke 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.