Compare towns
Charleston vs Braintree vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% 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.
| Measure | Charleston | Braintree | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,026Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Braintree and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Charleston and Orange 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.