Charles is home to 7,337 people in West Virginia. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 4,430 people. That is roughly 50% ahead of the West Virginia median. Getting to work takes 36 minutes on average. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.5% of people here.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $89,263, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Charles
What changed most since 1990
Population2,892 → 7,337(+154%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants51.0% → 74.5%(+23.5 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median age42.3 → 38.5(−3.8 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Charles's population equals 12% of Jefferson County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 27% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 9.2% 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)46.9%(246)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)33.8%(177)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.4%(107)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 524 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
Charles, decade by decade
Charles 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
2,892
$57,635
$219,606
16.4%
45.6
2000
2,907
$59,273
$206,758
24.9%
46.7
2010
5,259
$81,892
$370,720
28.7%
56.6
2020
6,534
$93,996
$322,281
33.7%
64.8
2024
7,337
$89,263
$377,700
36.1%
65.4
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.
