Compare towns
Charleston vs Ripton vs Canaan
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Canaan has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Highest |
508Lowest |
810 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.2±4.6 23% above VT |
| Charleston and Canaan 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Canaan 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$55,606±$4k 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$201,900±$46kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 21% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,389Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
17.2%±63.5Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±6.5Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Canaan School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Canaan High School CTE Program |
| 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.