Charleston is a metro area of 205,398 people. The median age is 44.0, about 5 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $140,295, having more than doubled since 2000. 2% of residents were born outside the United States. About 27% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Renters pay $889 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $59,838, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% 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 Charleston
What changed most since 1990
White share93.3% → 87.5%(−5.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population243,472 → 205,398(−16%)US over the same years: +35%
Among the 11 metro and micro areas based in West Virginia
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)20.5%(2,261)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.3%(2,344)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.6%(4,366)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5%(549)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(51)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 11,023 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
Charleston, decade by decade
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
243,472
$54,736
$127,691
15.9%
15.8
2000
235,938
$58,985
$129,900
18.5%
20.3
2010
227,078
$60,226
$136,937
21.1%
23.1
2020
210,605
$56,330
$133,550
24.2%
31.9
2024
205,398
$59,838
$140,295
27.1%
28.4
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.
