United States › West Virginia › South Charleston CITY · 2020 ACS
South Charleston West Virginia · 13,647 residents · 9.76 sq mi
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The short version
South Charleston is a city of 13,647 people in West Virginia. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $127,500. 3% of residents were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 16 minutes. At a median age of 42.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Renters pay $691 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.8
Average education
32% 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 42.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 13K 13K 13K 14K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 South Charleston Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $51,021
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,905 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $24,928 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.4%
Education & health services 0.1%
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$127,500
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$691
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $446 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 66.8% in 2000
32.0% rent
from 2.22 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 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 90.5%(12,113)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(75)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 83%(11,329)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(252)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 28.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 38.2%(2,031)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.0% 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) 18.9%(150)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.8%(181)
Share of the 793 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 South Charleston Head to head
Compare South Charleston to nearby cities SOUTH CHARLESTON VS
Charleston
Income $65,812 +29%
Home value $203,300 +59%
Population 46,117 +253%
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SOUTH CHARLESTON VS
St. Albans
Income $53,972 +6%
Home value $140,800 +10%
Population 10,210 −22%
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SOUTH CHARLESTON VS
Cross Lanes
Income $63,537 +25%
Home value $153,800 +21%
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SOUTH CHARLESTON VS
Teays Valley
Income $108,741 +113%
Home value $278,000 +118%
Population 14,151 +8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in South Charleston, West Virginia? South Charleston, West Virginia has about 13,647 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Charleston, West Virginia? The typical household in South Charleston, West Virginia earns about $51,021 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 $127,500, and the typical rent is about $691 a month.
How educated are people in South Charleston, West Virginia? About 32.0% 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 17.7% 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 grown since 1990. The population has added about 2 residents, a change of about 0 percent over that period.
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