Moving to Charleston
What you need to know before relocating to Charleston, West Virginia. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Charleston a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Charleston compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($863/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($135,800) are well below the us median; violent crime rate (265/100k) is well below the national average.
Charleston at a Glance
Cost of Living in Charleston
The median rent in Charleston is $863/month, while the median home value is $135,800. With a median household income of $55,415, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Charleston metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Charleston has a median household income of $55,415, which is 26% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Charleston
The violent crime rate in Charleston is 265 per 100,000 residents, which is 30% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1195 per 100,000 residents.
Education in West Virginia
West Virginia has a high school graduation rate of 90% and per-pupil spending of $13,892/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
24% of West Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
West Virginia has 256 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.6% uninsured rate, and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in West Virginia is 72.2 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Charleston
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($863/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($135,800) are well below the US median
- ✓Violent crime rate (265/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 90%
-Cons
- ✗Median household income ($55,415) trails the national median
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (76986 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston a good place to live?⌄
Charleston, West Virginia has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($863/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($135,800) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Charleston?⌄
The median rent in Charleston is $863/month and the median home value is $135,800. The median household income is $55,415. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Charleston safe?⌄
Charleston has a violent crime rate of 265 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Charleston?⌄
Charleston has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $55,415.