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METRO AREA

Charleston Metro

Charleston, WV · 3 counties · 200,170 residents (2025 est.) · 1,746.023 sq mi
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#44Fastest shrinkingof 918-7.3%
The short version

Charleston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,838. Population has declined 13% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $140,295. With a median age of 44.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
205,398
−13%since 2000
from 235,938 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
118 / sq mi
−13%since 2000
from 135 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.0
+10%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:200,170 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
202K213K224K236K247K1990201020202024Charleston
2024205K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,838
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,380 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,997
+86%since 2000
from $19,351 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.2%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.472
+3%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$140,295
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,309 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$889
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $427 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
27.7% rent
Vacancy rate
16.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+6%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
29
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charleston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(215,430)
Black6%(14,041)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(1,331)
Asian0.7%(1,707)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.2%(40,635)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.5%(179,688)
Black4.2%(8,634)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(2,950)
Asian1%(2,058)
Other5.9%(12,068)
Diversity Score28.6%(58,834)
Segregation Score33.9%(69,581)
Diversity Score
29
+66%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
34
−18%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.7%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+50%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.7%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 19.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−82.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.9%
+14.3 ptssince 2017
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

CharlestonCENTRAL46,117
What's inside

3 component counties

Kanawha CountyCENTRAL172,381Boone County20,251Clay County7,538
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Charleston

Jackson
Pop 184,569
Joplin
Pop 208,796
Johnson City
Pop 216,416
Houma
Pop 199,668
Places similar to Charleston
Head to head

Compare Charleston side by side

CHARLESTON VS
Jackson
Income$60,896+2%
Home value$187,779+34%
Population184,569−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Joplin
Income$62,065+4%
Home value$167,644+19%
Population208,796+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Johnson City
Income$58,506−2%
Home value$222,250+58%
Population216,416+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Houma
Income$64,027+7%
Home value$190,386+36%
Population199,668same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Charleston, WV?

Charleston, WV has about 205,398 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Charleston, WV?

The typical household in Charleston, WV earns about $59,838 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charleston, WV expensive?

In Charleston, WV, the median home is worth about $140,295, and the typical rent is about $889 a month.

How educated are people in Charleston, WV?

About 27.1% of adults age 25 and over in Charleston, WV hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charleston, WV?

About 16.2% of people in Charleston, WV live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charleston, WV grown since 1990?

Yes, Charleston, WV has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 38,074 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →