United States › West Virginia › Charleston CITY · 2020 ACS
Charleston West Virginia · 48,864 residents · 31.4 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Charleston is a city of 48,864 people in West Virginia. The median age is 42.7, about 4 years above the US median. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. About 42% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 4%. The typical home is worth $156,900, having risen by half since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K 49K 52K 55K 58K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Charleston Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $49,769
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,009 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $26,017 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 4.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.2%
Education & health services 1.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.9%
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$156,900
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$751
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $439 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 58.1% in 2000
43.4% rent
2.10 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.10 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.1 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 80.1%(42,810)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(432)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 74.1%(36,216)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data from 32.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 45.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 38.2%(7,572)
Women 15+
Never married 31.1%(6,381)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.9%(345)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.8%(574)
Share of the 2,316 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
Compare Charleston to nearby cities CHARLESTON VS
South Charleston
Income $63,884 +28%
Home value $155,400 −1%
Population 13,072 −72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Cross Lanes
Income $63,537 +28%
Home value $153,800 −2%
Population 9,671 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
St. Albans
Income $53,972 +8%
Home value $140,800 −10%
Population 10,210 −78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Teays Valley
Income $108,741 +118%
Home value $278,000 +77%
Population 14,151 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Charleston, West Virginia? Charleston, West Virginia has about 48,864 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Charleston, West Virginia? The typical household in Charleston, West Virginia earns about $49,769 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 $156,900, and the typical rent is about $751 a month.
How educated are people in Charleston, West Virginia? About 41.6% 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 19.8% 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 8,423 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.
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