What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the most affordable homes ($238k median).

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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	Newfields
People
Population	936Lowest	2,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Charleston 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 U.S.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 28% below U.S.	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields 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 U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields 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	Newfields School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.