What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the highest household income ($91k).

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

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	Root
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,963Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.3±5Highest about the NY average	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY
	Charleston and Root 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%	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Root 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%	10.4%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7 NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,417±$9kHighest 6% above NY	$75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,200±$23kLowest 57% below NY	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY
	Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$360Highest 23% below NY	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY
	Charleston and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,415Highest 33% below NY	$3,795Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±49.8Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Charleston and Root 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%	6.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	7.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Root 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.