CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Charleston Metro

Charleston, WV · 3 counties · 243,472 residents · 1,746.023 sq mi
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The short version

Charleston has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $22,806. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $53,203.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 36.3
US median: 33.0
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
243,472
+3%vs 2000
vs 235,938 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
139 / sq mi
+3%vs 2000
vs 135 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
36.3
−9%vs 2000
vs 39.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
202K213K224K236K247K1990201020202024Charleston
2024205K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,806
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,380 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,241
−37%vs 2000
vs $19,351 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
17.5%
+1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,203
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $71,309 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$330
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $427 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
69.6%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 71.6% in 2000
30.4% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+6%vs 2000
vs 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
1990
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(227,685)
Black5.7%(13,909)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(1,003)
Asian0.5%(1,300)
Other0.2%(578)
Diversity Score16.2%(39,367)
Diversity Score
16
−6%vs 2000
vs 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
−2.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 18.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.5%
−8.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.5%
−1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
+20%vs 2000
vs 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+167%
Home value$187,779+253%
Population184,569−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Joplin
Income$62,065+172%
Home value$167,644+215%
Population208,796+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Johnson City
Income$58,506+157%
Home value$222,250+318%
Population216,416+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Houma
Income$64,027+181%
Home value$190,386+258%
Population199,668same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Charleston, WV?

Charleston, WV has about 243,472 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Charleston, WV?

The typical household in Charleston, WV earns about $22,806 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 $53,203, and the typical rent is about $330 a month.

How educated are people in Charleston, WV?

About 15.9% 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 17.5% of people in Charleston, WV live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →