What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Burke has the most kids (23% 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	Burke
People
Population	936Lowest	1,317Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Charleston and Burke 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	$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT	$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Highest 21% below VT	$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT
	Charleston and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT	$5,177Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4%
	Burke 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%	10%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	25 minLowest 8% above VT
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Burke 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	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.