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Living in
South Charleston.
About
Life in South Charleston
The job market is solid with unemployment under 4%, anchored by government work (the State Police and Division of Natural Resources both headquarter here), plus International Industries and a small but real manufacturing base, though you won't find the kind of explosive job growth you'd see in bigger metros. The median household income sits at nearly $60,000, and about 35% of residents have college degrees, which speaks to a community that values education—there are even two college campuses here (BridgeValley and Marshall University's branch), making it possible to study locally without leaving town. The character here is solidly working-class Appalachian, with deep roots (the city was incorporated in 1917), so you get the sense of actual community—the South Charleston Museum downtown hosts film series and open mic nights, and there's genuine local pride rather than just chain-store anonymity.
South Charleston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Foreign-Born
1.4%
Broadband Internet
87.0%
of households
Population Growth
-5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Charleston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Charleston, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.6%), and 0.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.0%
of households
Married Couples
35.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WV
Rent, home values, and income in South Charleston
Rent and home values here are close to the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,049
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $172,065 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WV
Unemployment in South Charleston
Unemployment in Kanawha County, which includes South Charleston, is close to the WV average.
Unemployment rate
South Charleston: Kanawha County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kanawha County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What South Charleston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.3 min avg
How South Charleston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Charleston, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Yeager Airport (CRW)
Regional airport · few flights220k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Charleston runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
445.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,377.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Charleston Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 43 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kanawha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kanawha County, which includes South Charleston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 43 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $53,200 |
| 2024 | 28 | Strong Wind | $805,400 |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.5M |
| 2022 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $272,500 |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $727,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $332,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kanawha County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kanawha County, which includes South Charleston, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
84
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Kanawha County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Charleston has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.2"
Annual Snowfall
31.5"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
157
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 23°F | 3.47" |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 3.27" |
| Mar | 56°F | 31°F | 4.40" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 4.12" |
| May | 76°F | 51°F | 5.19" |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 4.44" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 5.79" |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.52" |
| Oct | 68°F | 42°F | 3.11" |
| Nov | 57°F | 32°F | 3.14" |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 4.08" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Charleston
South Charleston has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Thomas Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Thomas Memorial Hospital · 4605 Maccorkle Avenue Sw
- Outpatient center: Thomas Urgent Care · 6a Bank St, Nitro
- Outpatient center: Thomas Health · 1097 Fledderjohn Rd Ste 1, Charleston
- Outpatient center: Thomas Health · 1097 Fledderjohn Rd Ste 4, Charleston
- Outpatient center: Thomas Health · 1095 Fledderjohn Rd, Charleston
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Camc Charleston Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.9 mi away · Charleston
Charleston Area Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Charleston
Highland Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.3 mi away · Charleston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Charleston
South Charleston's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in South Charleston
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
Public · 2-year · 1,854 students · in-state tuition $5,800 · 45% graduate · median earnings $42,493 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,259 students · in-state tuition $33,990 · 56% graduate · median earnings $56,207 (10 yrs after entry)
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston
7.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 394 students · in-state tuition $22,025 · 56% graduate · median earnings $32,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-West Virginia
13.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 234 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 16% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gauley River National Recreation Area, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Charleston
South Charleston has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gauley River National Recreation Area (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
40 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
51 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
67 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Charleston
South Charleston Public Library
312 4th Avenue, South Charleston
Cities Near South Charleston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Charleston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Charleston FAQ
Is South Charleston, West Virginia affordable?⌄
South Charleston's median rent is $844/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,884/year. Median home value is $155,400.
Is South Charleston, West Virginia safe?⌄
South Charleston's violent crime rate was 446 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5378 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Charleston, West Virginia?⌄
Kanawha County, which includes South Charleston, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Charleston, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in South Charleston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $844/month and median household income is $63,884/year. The median home value is $155,400. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Charleston, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in South Charleston is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from