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
median household income $33,952, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Charleston
What changed most since 1990
Homes owned by their occupants61.4% → 50.0%(−11.5 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Population5,085 → 4,482(−12%)US over the same years: +35%
Median age32.2 → 41.8(+9.6 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Charleston's population equals 38% of Mississippi County's. Its number of people who work from home equals 16% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 44% of the county's.
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.9%(26)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.3%(44)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Charleston, decade by decade
Charleston population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
5,085
$38,063
$84,962
10.8%
60.1
2000
4,732
$39,734
$91,994
14.0%
64.8
2010
5,947
$32,781
$102,426
11.4%
66.2
2020
5,056
$37,284
$80,964
8.6%
68.0
2024
4,482
$33,952
$123,700
9.9%
74.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
