What stands out worked out from the figures below

Covington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Charleston has the highest household income ($91k).

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	Covington	Charleston
People
Population	1,409Highest	1,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.5±3.1Lowest 6% below NY	39.3±5Highest about the NY average
	Charleston and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.7%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	23.1%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Covington and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%	10.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Covington and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7%
	Charleston and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,125±$14kLowest 21% below NY	$91,417±$9kHighest 6% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,300±$17kLowest 62% below NY	$184,200±$23kHighest 57% below NY
	Charleston and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$441Lowest 45% below NY	$1,250±$360Highest 23% below NY
	Charleston and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 43% below NY	$4,415Highest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.6%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.2%±49.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Charleston and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 38% below NY	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	5.9%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Charleston and Covington 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

NY 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.