Compare towns
Charleston vs Reading vs Lunenburg
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Reading | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
699Lowest |
1,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.2±4.2 19% above VT |
| Charleston and Lunenburg 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lunenburg 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$53,125±$9k 35% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,025±$172 17% below VT |
| Reading and Lunenburg 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.5%±57.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Lunenburg 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.