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CITY

Charleston

West Virginia · 46,117 residents (2025 est.) · 31.397 sq mi
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The short version

Charleston has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,812. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $203,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,421
−11%since 2000
from 53,421 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,510 / sq mi
−11%since 2000
from 1,701 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.0
+5%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:46,117 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
46K49K52K55K58K1990201020202024Charleston
202447K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,812
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,009 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,097
+89%since 2000
from $26,017 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.0%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.549
+4%since 2010
from 0.530 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade2.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$203,300
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$908
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $439 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.3%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 58.1% in 2000
36.7% rent
Vacancy rate
17.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+4%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charleston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(42,810)
Black15%(7,998)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(432)
Asian1.8%(974)
Other0%
Diversity Score38%(20,293)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.4%(36,221)
Black9.5%(4,520)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(1,045)
Asian2.6%(1,233)
Other9.3%(4,402)
Diversity Score49.7%(23,575)
Diversity Score
50
+31%since 2000
from 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.2%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 32.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.2%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.7%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.9 min
+60%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.4%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
56.2%
−17.1 ptssince 2009
from 73.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
4.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 17.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−83.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Charleston to nearby cities

CHARLESTON VS
South Charleston
Income$63,884−3%
Home value$155,400−24%
Population13,072−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Cross Lanes
Income$63,537−3%
Home value$153,800−24%
Population9,671−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
St. Albans
Income$53,972−18%
Home value$140,800−31%
Population10,210−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Teays Valley
Income$108,741+65%
Home value$278,000+37%
Population14,151−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Charleston, West Virginia?

Charleston, West Virginia has about 47,421 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Charleston, West Virginia earns about $65,812 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charleston, West Virginia expensive?

In Charleston, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $203,300, and the typical rent is about $908 a month.

How educated are people in Charleston, West Virginia?

About 45.2% of adults age 25 and over in Charleston, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charleston, West Virginia?

About 15.8% of people in Charleston, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charleston, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Charleston, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 9,866 residents, a change of about -17 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 →