South Charleston is a city of 13,457 people in West Virginia. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $155,400. The foreign-born share is 1%. Median rent is $844 a month. Getting to work takes 19 minutes on average. There are 1,379 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $63,884, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about South Charleston
What changed most since 1990
White share95.1% → 86.4%(−8.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Poverty rate11.5% → 16.9%(+5.4 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
South Charleston's population equals 7.6% of Kanawha County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 5.2% of the county's. Its number of veterans equals 5.5% 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)8.2%(43)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.8%(135)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.7%(229)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.3%(12)
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
South Charleston, decade by decade
South 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
13,645
$65,680
$145,684
22.6%
11.8
2000
13,390
$69,050
$152,290
28.1%
22.1
2010
13,450
$60,469
$149,899
28.9%
30.7
2020
13,647
$61,839
$154,535
32.0%
37.5
2024
13,457
$63,884
$155,400
37.8%
31.0
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.
How many people live in South Charleston, West Virginia?
South Charleston, West Virginia has about 13,457 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Charleston, West Virginia?
The typical household in South Charleston, West Virginia earns about $63,884 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is South Charleston, West Virginia expensive?
In South Charleston, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $155,400, and the typical rent is about $844 a month.
How educated are people in South Charleston, West Virginia?
About 37.8% of adults age 25 and over in South Charleston, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in South Charleston, West Virginia?
About 16.9% of people in South Charleston, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has South Charleston, West Virginia grown since 1990?
Yes, South Charleston, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 188 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.
