Compare towns
Ryegate vs Charleston vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Charleston | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
936Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$70,259±$10kHighest 13% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Charleston and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
$3,930Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Charleston School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.