Compare towns
Charleston vs Morgan vs Ripton
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 most affordable homes ($238k median).
Morgan has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Morgan | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Highest |
827 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Charleston and Ripton 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% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Ripton 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% |
27.7%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Ripton 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% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT |
$311,300±$66k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Morgan 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 |
$1,112±$64Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Morgan 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 |
$3,426Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.