What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plum has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

Shaler has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Shaler
People
Population	26,723Lowest	27,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest PA: +2.4%	-2.2%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	44.4±1.6Lowest 9% above PA	46±2.6Highest 12% above PA
	Shaler and Plum 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%	17%±2Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Plum and Shaler 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%	24.6%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5%
	Shaler 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%Highest PA: 35.2%	41.7%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1%	3.7%±1.1Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Plum and Shaler 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	$95,654±$6kLowest 23% above PA
	Plum and Shaler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,600±$7kLowest 11% below PA	$245,500±$6kHighest 4% below PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$55Lowest about the PA average	$1,226±$114Highest about the PA average
	Shaler and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,948Lowest 19% above PA	$4,053Highest 22% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±8.8Highest PA: 48.2%	37.7%±10Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Plum and Shaler 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%	6.4%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest PA: 69.3%	87%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs newer than PA	1961Lowest 4 yrs older than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above PA	23 minLowest 12% below PA
Work from home	23.7%±2.8Highest PA: 15.6%	17.6%±2.6Lowest PA: 15.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#340 of 764 in PA	#366 of 764 in PA
School district	Plum Borough SD	Shaler Area SD
High school in town	Plum SHS	Shaler Area HS
Students per teacherat that high school	17.5Highest	11.5Lowest
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.