The Town FilesCharleston, Vermont
Town in Orleans County · population 1,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,000
- Household income
- $49,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 115 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 58.4
Charleston is a town of 1,021 people in Orleans County, Vermont. The median home is worth $238,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks quieter than 90% of Vermont towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $238,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $49,286, which is more affordable than 13% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $979 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,000 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $979 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $49,286 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.3% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.4 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 44.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.9 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 21, 2022.
Severe weather in Orleans County since 1996
Orleans County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orleans County
Orleans County had 10,532 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,363 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Charleston
1 public school with 121 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Elementary School | PK-8 | 121 | 9.3 |
Towns near Charleston
- Morgan, VT4.5 mi · 638 people · home $311,300
- Brownington, VT5.8 mi · 1,042 people · home $193,800
- Holland, VT7.2 mi · 632 people · home $209,400
- Derby, VT7.8 mi · 4,579 people · home $225,000
- Island Pond, VT7.9 mi · 750 people · home $145,800
- Derby Center, VT7.9 mi · 635 people · home $196,600
- Brighton, VT9.2 mi · 1,157 people · home $163,900
- Barton, VT9.3 mi · 2,872 people · home $201,200
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 39% of Vermont towns and quieter than 90%. 37.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.4).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $238,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,286, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $979 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.9 inches of precipitation a year and 114.9 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Charleston in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)