Compare towns
Charleston vs Orange vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($222k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
957Highest |
594Lowest |
| 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±5.3 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Orange 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| High school 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.