South Charleston city, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

South Charleston city is a small city located in West Virginia. The total population is 13,594. It ranks as the 12th most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Charleston city is 41.1 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Charleston city is $59,616. This is 3% higher than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.0%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. 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 6.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $144,800. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, South Charleston city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Charleston city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (7.4% vs 3.2%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (1.5% vs 0.8%).

Education

35.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 95.7%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South 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.