What stands out worked out from the figures below

Western has the most people working from home (5.1%).

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	Western	Ira
People
Population	1,839Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48±6Lowest 23% above U.S.	54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,964±$16kHighest 10% above U.S.	$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$69kLowest 29% below U.S.	$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,024±$178Highest 28% below U.S.	$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S.
	Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 58% above U.S.	$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Western 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.