Charleston city, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Charleston city is a small community located in Missouri. The total population is 4,565. It ranks as the 161st most populous out of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charleston city is 42.9 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charleston city is $35,139. This is 49% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 55% lower. The poverty rate stands at 31.4%. This is 149% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $107,700. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 50.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Charleston city is Black or African American, making up 55.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (37.2%) is well below the state average of 76.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.7% vs 11.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

10.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Charleston city, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. For official data, visit data.census.gov.