What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ross has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Shaler has the most homeowners (87%).

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	Ross	Shaler
People
Population	32,939Highest	27,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest PA: +2.4%	-2.2%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	42.6±1.5Lowest 4% above PA	46±2.6Highest 12% above PA
	Shaler and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±1.7Highest PA: 20.4%	17%±2Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Ross and Shaler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±2Lowest PA: 19.5%	24.6%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5%
	Shaler and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%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%
	Ross and Shaler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,642±$3kLowest 19% above PA	$95,654±$6kHighest 23% above PA
	Shaler and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,900±$9kHighest 6% above PA	$245,500±$6kLowest 4% below PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,278±$58Highest 6% above PA	$1,226±$114Lowest about the PA average
	Ross and Shaler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,662Lowest 11% above PA	$4,053Highest 22% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43%±8Highest PA: 48.2%	37.7%±10Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Ross and Shaler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest PA: 11.7%	6.4%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest PA: 69.3%	87%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 1 yr newer than PA	1961Lowest 4 yrs older than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below PA	23 minLowest 12% below PA
Work from home	25.4%±3.6Highest PA: 15.6%	17.6%±2.6Lowest PA: 15.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#78 of 764 in PA	#366 of 764 in PA
School district	North Hills SD	Shaler Area SD
High school in town	North Hills HS	Shaler Area HS
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	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.