What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

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	Charleston	Union
People
Population	1,117Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.4±5.9Highest about the ME average	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	Charleston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,250±$20kLowest about the ME average	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
	Union and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,500±$17kLowest 24% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
	Union and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$988±$870Lowest 13% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,811Lowest 40% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Charleston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Charleston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.