What stands out worked out from the figures below

Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k median).

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Etna	Charleston
People
Population	1,252Highest	1,117Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME	45.4±5.9Highest about the ME average
	Charleston and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Etna and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±1.1Highest ME: 22.4%	11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.5Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Etna and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME	$75,250±$20kHighest about the ME average
	Charleston and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME	$226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME
	Charleston and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$988±$870 13% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,745Lowest 43% below ME	$1,811Highest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Etna and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 12% above ME	26 minLowest 5% above ME
Work from home	5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Charleston and Etna 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

ME 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.