What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).

Newark has the most kids (22% 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	Newark
People
Population	936Highest	727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	22%±3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT	$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT	$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT
	Charleston and Newark 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	$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT	$3,771Highest 25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4%	7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Charleston and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.8%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	34 minHighest 44% above VT
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Charleston and Newark 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 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.