Charleston, WV

Full City Profile · West Virginia · Kanawha County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
47,918 Population 1,526/sq mi density
$64,512 Median Income $45,967 per capita
$187,300 Home Value $166,696 Zillow
$898 Median Rent 26.8% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature
543 Violent Crime/100K 3,148 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$64,512 median income, 6.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$187,300 home value, $898/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
543 violent crimes/100K (43% above avg)
A+
Education
4.5 / 5.0
44.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Charleston, WV

At a Glance

Median Income
$64,512
14% below
$45,967 per capita
Home Value
$187,300
34% below
Zillow: $166,696
Median Rent
$898/mo
23% below
26.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
543/100K
43% above
3,148/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
44.1%
31% above
92.1% high school+
Unemployment
6.3%
75% above
11.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.1%
25% above
18.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F

How Charleston Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Charleston's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
86%
Home Value
66%
Rent
77%
Poverty
94%
Bachelor's
131%
Unemployment
175%
Crime
143%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Charleston a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Charleston residents earn a median household income of $64,512 , which is 14% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $45,967. The unemployment rate stands at 6.3% (75% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 6,860 business establishments, including 428 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Charleston is $187,300 , 34% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $166,696. Median rent is $898/month, with 26.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 89.5 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1956.

Safety & Crime

Charleston reports 543 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 43% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,148/100K. The murder rate is 13.0/100K.

Education

44.1% of adults in Charleston hold a bachelor's degree or higher (31% above the national average). 92.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Charleston has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 46.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Data Overview

People

Population47,918
Median Age42.6 yrs
Density1,526/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born3.8%
Veterans5.6%

Economy

B
Median Income$64,512
Per Capita$45,967
Unemployment6.3%
Poverty11.7%
County GDP$14,448M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,192

Housing

A+
Home Value$187,300
Rent$898
Ownership62.8%
Zillow$166,696
Housing Units25,754
Rent Burden26.8%

Crime

F
Violent543/100K
Property3,148/100K
Murder13.0/100K
Assault417/100K
Burglary655/100K

Health

Obesity40.1%
Diabetes12.8%
Smoking18.0%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death14,979/100K

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Rain46.2 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation604 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+44.1%
High School+92.1%
Graduate+21.0%
School Score5.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 58% / D 40%
Commute18 min
Broadband88.2%
Internet Speed51 Mbps
EV Stations11
Libraries13

Did You Know?

Charleston was founded in 1786.
The median home in Charleston was built in 1956.
The nearest airport is West Virginia International Yeager (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.490 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
20.0% of the population has a disability.
There are 428 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 20 fatal vehicle crashes.