What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($108k median).

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

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	Charlotte	Stratton
People
Population	1,501Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.8±4.3Highest 18% above U.S.	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlotte and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,082±$4kLowest 24% below U.S.	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$107,500±$10kLowest 68% below U.S.	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$648±$208Lowest 54% below U.S.	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.
	Stratton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,049Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.6%±25.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charlotte and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	1.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stratton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.