Compare towns
Charleston vs Proctor vs Sheldon vs Orange
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 most people working from home (18.7%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.3±5.3 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% 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±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.