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CITY

Charles

West Virginia · 9,329 residents (2025 est.) · 5.866 sq mi
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The short version

Charles has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $89,263. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 4,430 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $377,700. Households here earn about 50% more than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 83%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,337
+152%since 2000
from 2,907 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,251 / sq mi
+152%since 2000
from 496 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.5
−1%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,329 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K4K5K6K8K1990201020202024Charles
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$89,263
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,538 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,136
+144%since 2000
from $18,104 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.7%
+25.6 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.5%
−9.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.373
−16%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services11.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Information5.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$377,700
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,115
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $454 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.5%
+23.2 ptssince 2000
from 51.3% in 2000
25.5% rent
Vacancy rate
7.7%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
−12.6 ptssince 2009
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.9%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+21%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charles on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.1%(2,242)
Black17.4%(506)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(74)
Asian1%(30)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.7%(1,271)
2024
White, non-Hispanic66%(4,846)
Black13.9%(1,017)
Hispanic / Latino13.9%(1,022)
Asian1.8%(131)
Other4.4%(321)
Diversity Score65.4%(4,796)
Diversity Score
65
+50%since 2000
from 44 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.0%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.2 min
+41%since 2000
from 25.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.9%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
20.7%
+17.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.2%
+8.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.3%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Female
49.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Foreign born
10.9%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.4%
−41.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.0%
+17.9 ptssince 2017
from 75.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 86.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 8.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Charles to nearby cities

CHARLES VS
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Income$165,121+85%
Home value$654,200+73%
Population8,890−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLES VS
Brunswick
Income$118,025+32%
Home value$374,500−1%
Population9,380+1%
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CHARLES VS
Martinsburg
Income$59,555−33%
Home value$240,000−36%
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CHARLES VS
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Income$63,974−28%
Home value$343,000−9%
Population28,272+203%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Charles, West Virginia?

Charles, West Virginia has about 7,337 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Charles, West Virginia?

The typical household in Charles, West Virginia earns about $89,263 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charles, West Virginia expensive?

In Charles, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $377,700, and the typical rent is about $1,115 a month.

How educated are people in Charles, West Virginia?

About 36.1% of adults age 25 and over in Charles, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charles, West Virginia?

About 6.5% of people in Charles, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charles, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Charles, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,445 residents, a change of about 154 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →