Compare towns
Charleston vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Springfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
9,084Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Orange and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Charleston and Orange 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Charleston School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.