Charleston city, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Charleston city is a mid-sized community located in West Virginia. The total population is 47,918. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charleston city is 42.6 years. This is about average than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charleston city is $64,512. This is 11% higher than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.5%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $187,300. Housing costs are 20% higher than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Charleston city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Charleston city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (11.8% vs 3.2%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.7% vs 0.8%).

Education

44.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Charleston city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 90% higher than the state rate of 23.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.1%. Notably, 21.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Charleston city, West Virginia 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 West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 430 Census-designated places in West Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.