Compare towns
Charleston vs Orange 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% 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 | Orange | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
957Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| 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 | $3,750 26% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.