Compare towns
Charleston vs Rochester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% 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 | Rochester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,389Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Charleston and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Charleston 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% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 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 |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.