What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).

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

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	Lowell	Charleston
People
Population	1,070Highest	936Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%	11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Charleston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kHighest 29% below VT	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT
	Lowell and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT	$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT
	Charleston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$979±$444Highest 21% below VT
	Charleston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT	$3,750Highest 26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Charleston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	26 minLowest 12% above VT
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Charleston School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.