What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($108k median).

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	Stratton	Charlotte
People
Population	532Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-11.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.	45.8±4.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlotte and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.	$61,082±$4kLowest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.	$107,500±$10kLowest 68% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.	$648±$208Lowest 54% below U.S.
	Stratton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.	$3,049Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.6%±25.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charlotte and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	1.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stratton and Charlotte 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

U.S. 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.