Compare towns
Orange vs Charleston vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Charleston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
936Lowest |
967Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% 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 | 15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
| Groton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Orange and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Charleston and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Charleston School District | — |
| 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.