What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charleston	Unity
People
Population	936Lowest	1,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S.	58±4.5Lowest 49% above U.S.
	Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Unity 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 U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Charleston and Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charleston and Unity 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 U.S.	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 28% below U.S.	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Charleston School District	Unity School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.