What it's like to live in South Charleston
South Charleston is a small city in West Virginia with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Charleston deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How South Charleston compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Charleston
Based on South Charleston's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,688
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,760 a year
- 45% of South Charleston renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$31,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $15,540
- Homes cost 2.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 40% below US
$844/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $844 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $155,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $155,400 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kanawha County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Kanawha County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 35% above US
446 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 5378/100k · South Charleston Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 1.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gauley River National Recreation Area (40 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Charleston's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($844/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
See all the data for South Charleston →·All West Virginia cities →
Other places near South Charleston
All West Virginia guides →Moving to Charleston →
5 mi away · pop. 47,421
Rent $908/mo · Income $65,812
Compare with South Charleston →Moving to St. Albans →
6 mi away · pop. 10,522
Rent $931/mo · Income $53,972
Compare with South Charleston →Moving to Cross Lanes →
7 mi away · pop. 9,671
Rent $949/mo · Income $63,537
Compare with South Charleston →Moving to Teays Valley →
14 mi away · pop. 14,151
Rent $1,102/mo · Income $108,741
Compare with South Charleston →Not sure South Charleston is the one?
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