What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plum has the highest household income ($99k).

Monroeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Plum	Monroeville
People
Population	26,723Lowest	28,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+0.9%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	44.4±1.6Highest 9% above PA	44±1.7Lowest 8% above PA
	Plum and Monroeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.4Highest PA: 20.4%	18.4%±2.3Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Plum and Monroeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2Lowest PA: 19.5%	23.2%±1.8Highest PA: 19.5%
	Monroeville and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Lowest PA: 35.2%	46.4%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.1Lowest PA: 6.1%	4.7%±1.2Highest PA: 6.1%
	Monroeville and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,705±$4kHighest 27% above PA	$79,218±$4kLowest about the PA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,600±$7kHighest 11% below PA	$209,800±$8kLowest 18% below PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$55Highest about the PA average	$1,175±$33Lowest about the PA average
	Plum and Monroeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,948Highest 19% above PA	$3,185Lowest 4% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±8.8Lowest PA: 48.2%	48.4%±9.4Highest PA: 48.2%
	Monroeville and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest PA: 11.7%	10.7%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest PA: 69.3%	68.7%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs newer than PA	1968Lowest 3 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above PA	25 minLowest 5% below PA
Work from home	23.7%±2.8Lowest PA: 15.6%	24.9%±4.2Highest PA: 15.6%
	Monroeville and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#340 of 764 in PA	#174 of 764 in PA
School district	Plum Borough SD	Spectrum CS · Gateway SD
High school in town	Plum SHS	Gateway SHS
Students per teacherat that high school	17.5Highest	14.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.