United States › Missouri › Charleston CITY
Charleston Missouri · 4,731 residents (2025 est.) · 4.80 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 4,482 people, Charleston is a city in Missouri. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 10% of adults. That trails the Missouri median by roughly 52%. Owners hold 50% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $123,700, having more than doubled since 2000. 25.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,732 in 2000
4,731 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
935 / sq mi
−12%since 2009
from 1,064 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 5K 5K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Charleston Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $33,952
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,812 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,876 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 26.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.504 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 10%
Public administration 5.2%
Transportation & warehousing 4.8%
Education & health services 2.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$123,700
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$774
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $308 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 59.7% in 2000
50.0% rent
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 52.7%(2,493)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(52)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 43.3%(1,940)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(36)
from 68 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 66.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 19.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 57.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 63.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 24.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 25.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 77.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 50.8%(1,137)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 25.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 54.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 44.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16.6%(24)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.9%(26)
Share of the 145 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Charleston Head to head
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CHARLESTON VS
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CHARLESTON VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Charleston, Missouri? Charleston, Missouri has about 4,482 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Charleston, Missouri? The typical household in Charleston, Missouri earns about $33,952 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Charleston, Missouri expensive? In Charleston, Missouri, the median home is worth about $123,700, and the typical rent is about $774 a month.
How educated are people in Charleston, Missouri? About 9.9% of adults age 25 and over in Charleston, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Charleston, Missouri? About 25.8% of people in Charleston, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.
Has Charleston, Missouri grown since 1990? Yes, Charleston, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 603 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.
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