Compare towns
Charleston vs Windsor 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 the most people working from home (18.7%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Windsor | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
2,060Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Windsor 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% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±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 |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% 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±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charleston and Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Orange 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Charleston School District | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.