What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).

Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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.

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

Measure	Charleston	Whiting
People
Population	936Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT	39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%	13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	25.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	6.2%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Whiting and Charleston 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	$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT
	Whiting and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT	$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT
	Whiting and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT	$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average
	Whiting and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 26% below VT	$4,227Highest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Whiting 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%	11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	22 minLowest 7% below VT
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%	10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Charleston and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Charleston School District	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.