What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% 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	Lowell
People
Population	936Lowest	1,070Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	19.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Charleston and Lowell 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	$57,404±$15kHighest 29% below VT
	Lowell and Charleston 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	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT
	Charleston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Highest 21% below VT	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT
	Charleston and Lowell 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	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4%	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Charleston and Lowell 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%	9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	55 minHighest 135% above VT
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Charleston School District	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.