Charleston, West Virginia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Charleston.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Charleston?
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 the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for 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 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $64,512Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 64ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year36% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $187,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year38% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $898City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3522% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Summer high
- 85°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 28°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 46.2 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals40% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 214As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals20% below U.S. avgU.S. 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 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?
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?
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?
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 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?
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 Crime Data Explorer did not return usable agency rates 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 Data Explorer, 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 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Kanawha County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013866 CHARLESTON YEAGER AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10
Canonical profile · All West Virginia cities · Full city index