Charleston, West Virginia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Charleston, WV.
This profile is Charleston, WV. Looking for Charleston, SC?
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Charleston, WV?
For relocators asking how much Charleston costs: the housing index sits at 64 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $187,300 and rents near $898. Local median income is about $64,512 and unemployment recently ran 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 20 minutes. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 64U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $187,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $898U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $64,512U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 85°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Charleston compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 46,482City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $64,512Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 64ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year36% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $187,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year38% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $898City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3522% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Summer high
- 85°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 28°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 46.2 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals39% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 214As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals20% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Charleston declined 9.3% from 51,274 in 2010 to 46,482 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Charleston, WV expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Charleston's housing cost index is 64 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($187,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($898 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 64 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $187,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $898 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Charleston, WV?
Typical ownership costs center near $187,300, while median gross rent is about $898 a month. Against a median household income of $64,512, rent alone is roughly 17% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $187,300
- Median rent $898/month
- Median household income $64,512
What is the job market like in Charleston, WV?
County unemployment recently ran 3.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Charleston is about $64,512 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $64,512
How long is the typical commute in Charleston, WV?
Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, with Walk Score near 35/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 35/100
Is Charleston, WV safer than similar U.S. cities?
MapsToIt could not publish a usable FBI agency crime rate for Charleston in the latest pull. Treat safety as a block-by-block research task and check local PD reports.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Charleston, WV?
Normals show summer highs near 85°F, winter lows near 28°F, about 46.2 inches of rain, and roughly 214 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 85°F
- Winter low 28°F
- 46.2 in rain · 214 sunny days
Charleston (pop. 46,482) sits in West Virginia. Households here report a median income near $64,512; our housing-derived cost index is about 64 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs). Entry home prices around $187,300 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Appalachian terrain and lower housing costs define many relocation pitches. Pack for 85°F summer peaks; winter mornings often settle near 28°F. Commutes average near 20 minutes one-way, with walkability near 35/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 3.9% for the surrounding county. FBI tables did not return a usable citywide rate here — verify recent local PD reports block by block.
Charleston is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Charleston with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Charleston city, 1600000US5414600) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Kanawha County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013866 CHARLESTON YEAGER AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19
Canonical profile · All West Virginia cities · Full city index