What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Orange has the highest household income ($71k).

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	Orange
People
Population	936Lowest	957Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT
	Charleston and Orange 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%	15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orange and Charleston 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%	19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	22.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.9Lowest 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	$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT
	Orange 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	$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT
	Charleston and Orange 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	$3,545Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Charleston and Orange 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%	7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.8%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Charleston School District	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
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.