Compare towns
Charleston vs Orange vs Sheldon vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
957 |
2,267Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brighton 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%±4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Brighton 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% |
14.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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±$17k 39% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Sheldon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 21% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Orange and Sheldon 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.