What stands out worked out from the figures below

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

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	Root	Charleston
People
Population	1,963Highest	1,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY	39.3±5Highest about the NY average
	Charleston and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%	23.1%±5.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.4%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%	10.3%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.7 NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY	$91,417±$9kHighest 6% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY	$184,200±$23kLowest 57% below NY
	Root and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY	$1,250±$360Highest 23% below NY
	Charleston and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,795Lowest 42% below NY	$4,415Highest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.2%±49.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Charleston and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Root and Charleston 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.