Compare towns
Charleston vs Jay 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 the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
471Lowest |
957Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Charleston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Charleston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 21% 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 | $3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 History | 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.