What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Litchfield has the shortest commute (24 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	Charleston	Litchfield
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,418Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.3±5Lowest about the NY average	40±8Highest about the NY average
	Litchfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.9%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Litchfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Charleston and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,417±$9kHighest 6% above NY	$87,750±$18kLowest about the NY average
	Charleston and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,200±$23kLowest 57% below NY	$206,600±$26kHighest 51% below NY
	Litchfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$360 23% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,415Highest 33% below NY	$3,224Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±49.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.3%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Litchfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	5.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 21 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	7.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Litchfield and Charleston 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

NY 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.