What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most kids (15.8% under 18).

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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	Canaan	Charleston
People
Population	810Lowest	936Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.2±4.6Lowest 23% above VT	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Canaan and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Highest VT: 43.8%	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,606±$4kHighest 32% below VT	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT
	Canaan and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 36% below VT	$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$979±$444 21% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 33% below VT	$3,750Highest 26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 15% below VT	26 minHighest 12% above VT
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	Charleston School District
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.