Charleston

Population: 47,918
Median household income: $64,512
Median home value: $187,300

Charleston is a community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, home to 47,918 residents. The median household income of $64,512 is above the Kanawha County median ($58,887).

Between 2019 and 2023, Charleston's population held roughly steady from 48,006 to 47,918, while its median home value rose 28.5% from $145,800 to $187,300.

The typical home was built around 1956. 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 47,918
Median age: 42.6 yrs
Median household income: $64,512
Median home value: $187,300
Median gross rent: $898
Housing units: 25,586
Homeownership rate: 62.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44.1%
Unemployment rate: 6.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

48,00647,918

Median household income

$43,344$64,512

Median home value

$145,800$187,300

Median gross rent

$735$898

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	48,006	$43,344	$145,800	$735
2020	47,273	$49,769	$156,900	$751
2021	49,055	$54,101	$157,000	$800
2022	48,415	$58,902	$172,800	$870
2023	47,918	$64,512	$187,300	$898

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.2%

5 to 1714.2%

18 to 248.0%

25 to 3414.2%

35 to 4412.3%

45 to 5411.9%

55 to 6414.3%

65 to 7412.7%

75 and over8.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	2,033	4.2%
5 to 17	6,800	14.2%
18 to 24	3,843	8.0%
25 to 34	6,815	14.2%
35 to 44	5,892	12.3%
45 to 54	5,707	11.9%
55 to 64	6,858	14.3%
65 to 74	6,108	12.7%
75 and over	3,862	8.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	36,392	75.9%
Black or African American	5,640	11.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	27	0.1%
Asian	1,282	2.7%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	34	0.1%
Some other race	48	0.1%
Two or more races	3,570	7.5%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	925	1.9%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma7.9%

High school graduate22.8%

Some college or associate's25.2%

Bachelor's degree22.2%

Graduate or professional degree21.9%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	2,771	7.9%
High school graduate	8,042	22.8%
Some college or associate's	8,874	25.2%
Bachelor's degree	7,831	22.2%
Graduate or professional degree	7,724	21.9%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 18 min

Drove alone70.7%

Carpooled8.5%

Public transit2.1%

Walked5.4%

Bicycle0.2%

Worked from home11.2%

Other means1.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	15,485	70.7%
Carpooled	1,865	8.5%
Public transit	467	2.1%
Walked	1,188	5.4%
Bicycle	43	0.2%
Worked from home	2,444	11.2%
Other means	414	1.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	9,664	49.7%
15 to 29 min	7,112	36.5%
30 to 44 min	1,286	6.6%
45 to 59 min	467	2.4%
60+ min	933	4.8%

Households

Average household size: 2.16
Poverty rate: 16.5% (7,614 of 46,092)

	Count	Share
Family households	11,449	53.9%
Nonfamily households	9,788	46.1%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1956

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	21,237	83.0%
Vacant	4,349	17.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	13,327	62.8%
Renter-occupied	7,910	37.2%

1-unit, detached66.6%

1-unit, attached3.2%

2 to 4 units12.9%

5 to 19 units5.9%

20 or more units10.5%

Mobile home & other0.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	17,044	66.6%
1-unit, attached	814	3.2%
2 to 4 units	3,302	12.9%
5 to 19 units	1,522	5.9%
20 or more units	2,680	10.5%
Mobile home & other	224	0.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 5414600
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 31 sq mi
Water area: 1.14 sq mi
Center point: 38.3487, -81.6323