Charleston, WV

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Add Comparison

Population

217,312

1.21% 1-year decline

US Senator

Joe Manchin

Democratic Party

US Senator

Shelley Moore Capito

Republican Party

Median Age

43.3

Poverty Rate

18.3%

Median Household Income

$44,096

2.35% 1-year decline

Median Property Value

$106,200

1.05% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

88,806

2.93% 1-year decline

About

In 2018, Charleston, WV had a population of 217k people with a median age of 43.3 and a median household income of $44,096. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Charleston, WV declined from 219,964 to 217,312, a -1.21% decrease and its median household income declined from $45,155 to $44,096, a -2.35% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Charleston, WV are White (Non-Hispanic) (89.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (6.23%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.34%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.968%), and White (Hispanic) (0.654%). NaNk% of the people in Charleston, WV speak a non-English language, and 99.4% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Charleston, WV are University of Charleston (650 degrees awarded in 2017), BridgeValley Community & Technical College (589 degrees), and West Virginia State University (372 degrees).

The median property value in Charleston, WV is $106,200, and the homeownership rate is 70%. Most people in Charleston, WV commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 21.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Charleston, WV is 2 cars per household.

Charleston, WV borders Beckley, WV, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, and Logan, WV.

United States West Virginia

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for West Virginia. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in West Virginia, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

View Full Dashboard

Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in West Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of West Virginia across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

View Full Dashboard

Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in West Virginia went to Donald J. Trump with 68.6% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (26.5%), followed by Gary Johnson (3.23%). The most partisan county was Grant County, WV with 87.7% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing the state of West Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

West Virginia is currently represented by 3 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Charleston, WV. Showing the available data for West Virginia.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (68.6%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (26.5%)
Democratic Party
Gary Johnson (3.23%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in West Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of West Virginia.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for West Virginia

68.6% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in West Virginia

Grant County, WV
87.7% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Wyoming County, WV
83.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Ritchie County, WV
83.6% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in West Virginia was Grant County, WV with 87.7% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in West Virginia colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from West Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

Joe Manchin

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on November 15, 2010
Elected to the seat to succeed Carte Goodwin, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Robert Byrd.

Shelley Moore Capito

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing West Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in West Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from West Virginia

West Virginia is currently represented by 3 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for West Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Charleston, WV is home to a population of 217k people, from which 99.4% are citizens. As of 2018, 1.65% of Charleston, WV residents were born outside of the country (3.59k people).

In 2018, there were 14.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (194k people) in Charleston, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 13.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 5.09k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Charleston, WV

White (Non-Hispanic)
194k ± 58
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
13.5k ± 486
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
5.09k ± 514

0.959%

Hispanic Population

2.08k people

0.959% of the people in Charleston, WV are hispanic (2.08k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Charleston, WV as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

1.65%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

3.59k people

1.55%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

3.4k people

As of 2018, 1.65% of Charleston, WV residents (3.59k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Charleston, WV was 1.55%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Charleston, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.2

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 3.2

In 2018, the median age of all people in Charleston, WV was 43.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 43, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 45. But people in Charleston, WV are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Charleston, WV residents was 43.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
2,603 ± 1,252 people
India
2,547 ± 1,238 people
China
2,428 ± 1,209 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was Mexico, the natal country of 2,603 West Virginia residents, followed by India with 2,547 and China with 2,428.

Citizenship

99.4%

2018 Citizenship

99.4%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 99.4% of Charleston, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Charleston, WV was 99.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Charleston, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
5,659 ± 440
Gulf War (2001-)
2,099 ± 388
Gulf War (1990s)
1,821 ± 315

Charleston, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.7 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Charleston, WV is $44,096. In 2018, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Charleston, WV was Berkeley County, WV with a value of $59,328, followed by Monongalia County, WV and Harrison County, WV, with respective values of $50,834 and $46,569.

Males in West Virginia have an average income that is 1.4 times higher than the average income of females, which is $39,552. The income inequality in West Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.444, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Charleston, WV employs 88.8k people. The largest industries in Charleston, WV are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,002 people), Retail Trade (9,754 people), and Public Administration (8,325 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($97,902), Utilities ($67,096), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($64,792).

Wages

Median Household Income

$44,096

2018 value

± $1,202

-2.35%

1 Year Growth

± 3.97%

Households in Charleston, WV have a median annual income of $44,096, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $45,155 in 2017, which represents a -2.35% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Charleston, WV compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

$55,526

Average Male Salary in West Virginia

± $2,063

$39,552

Average Female Salary in West Virginia

± $1,541

In 2017, full-time male employees in West Virginia made 1.4 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in West Virginia by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in West Virginia

Asian
$63,277 ± $23,510
American Indian
$44,513 ± $30,224
White
$42,144 ± $1,238

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of West Virginia workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.42 times more than American Indian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in West Virginia.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in West Virginia by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Charleston, WV is from West Virginia.

0.444

2017 Wage GINI in West Virginia

0.444

2016 Wage GINI in West Virginia

In 2017, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.444 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.108% decline from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in West Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in West Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2018, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Charleston, WV was Berkeley County, WV with a value of $59,328, followed by Monongalia County, WV and Harrison County, WV, with respective values of $50,834 and $46,569.

The following map shows all of the counties in Charleston, WV colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

18.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Charleston, WV (39.1k out of 214k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
33,348 ± 1,233
Black
3,849 ± 431
Two Or More
1,343 ± 264

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Charleston, WV is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

88.8k

2018 Value

± 2,025

-2.93%

1 Year decline

± 3.31%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Charleston, WV declined at a rate of -2.93%, from 91.5k employees to 88.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Charleston, WV, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,683 people), Sales & Related Occupations (9,404 people), and Management Occupations (6,997 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Charleston, WV.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Charleston, WV, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,683 people), Sales & Related Occupations (9,404 people), and Management Occupations (6,997 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other MSAs, Charleston, WV has an unusually high number of residents working as Health Technologists & Technicians (1.53 times higher than expected), Healthcare Support Occupations (1.52 times), and Legal Occupations (1.41 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Charleston, WV, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($73,227), Legal Occupations ($70,230), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($62,830).

Industries

Employment by Industries

88.8k

2018 Value

± 2,025

-2.93%

1 Year decline

± 3.31%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Charleston, WV declined at a rate of -2.93%, from 91.5k employees to 88.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Charleston, WV, are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,002 people), Retail Trade (9,754 people), and Public Administration (8,325 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Charleston, WV, though some of these residents may live in Charleston, WV and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Charleston, WV, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (17,002 people), Retail Trade (9,754 people), and Public Administration (8,325 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other MSAs, Charleston, WV has an unusually high number of Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (5.43 times higher than expected), Public Administration (2.02 times), and Utilities (1.78 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Charleston, WV, by median earnings, are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($97,902), Utilities ($67,096), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($64,792).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from West Virginia to other states, or from other states to West Virginia.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Coal-n.e.c.
$17.4B
Coal
$7.3B
Pharmaceuticals
$6.62B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia product (by dollars) was Coal-n.e.c. with $17.4B, followed by Coal ($7.3B) and Pharmaceuticals ($6.62B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound West Virginia products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for West Virginia.

$68B

2015 Value in West Virginia

$86.9B

Projected 2045 Value in West Virginia

27.7% growth

In 2015, total outbound West Virginia trade was $68B. This is expected to increase 27.7% to $86.9B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound West Virginia trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from West Virginia to other states, or from other states to West Virginia.

Most Common Trade Partners

Pennsylvania
$10.5B
Ohio
$6.95B
Virginia
$6.94B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Pennsylvania with $10.5B, followed by Ohio with $6.95B and Virginia and $6.94B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that West Virginia shares with each state (excluding itself).

Education

In 2017, universities in Charleston, WV awarded 2,121 degrees. The student population of Charleston, WV is skewed towards women, with 4,068 male students and 5,029 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Charleston, WV are White (1,544 and 74.1%), followed by Unknown (223 and 10.7%), Black or African American (194 and 9.31%), and Two or More Races (39 and 1.87%).

The largest universities in Charleston, WV by number of degrees awarded are University of Charleston (650 and 30.6%), BridgeValley Community & Technical College (589 and 27.8%), and West Virginia State University (372 and 17.5%).

The most popular majors in Charleston, WV are Organizational Leadership (154 and 7.26%), General Studies (115 and 5.42%), and Registered Nursing (113 and 5.33%).

The median tuition costs in Charleston, WV are $21,000 for private four year colleges, and $7,546 and $16,550 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
77 degree-majorss awarded
General Studies
67 degree-majorss awarded
Organizational Leadership
154 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Charleston, WV was General Business Administration & Management with 77 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Charleston, WV according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of Charleston
650 degrees awarded
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
589 degrees awarded
West Virginia State University
372 degrees awarded

$7,546

Median In-State Public

$21,000

Median Private

In 2017, the Charleston, WV institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of Charleston with 650 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

913

Degrees Awarded to Men

1,208

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 913 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Charleston, WV, which is 0.756 times less than the 1,208 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Charleston, WV by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,544 degrees awarded
Unknown
223 degrees awarded
Black or African American
194 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Charleston, WV were to White students. These 1,544 degrees mean that there were 6.92 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 223 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Charleston, WV was $106,200 in 2018, which is 0.462 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $105,100 to $106,200, a 1.05% increase. The homeownership rate in Charleston, WV is 70%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Charleston, WV have an average commute time of 21.9 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Charleston, WV is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$106,200

2018 Median

± $2,681

$105,100

2017 Median

± $2,174

In 2018, the median property value in Charleston, WV grew to to $106,200 from the previous year's value of $105,100.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Charleston, WV compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Charleston, WV the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$44,096

Median Household Income

± $1,202

91.8k

Number of Households

± 1,990

In 2018, the median household income of the 91.8k households in Charleston, WV declined from $44,096 from the previous year's value of $45,155.

The following chart displays the households in Charleston, WV distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Charleston, WV distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Charleston, WV the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

Rent vs Own

70%

2018 Homeownership

70.3%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 70% of the housing units in Charleston, WV were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 70.3%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Charleston, WV compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

21.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Charleston, WV have a shorter commute time (21.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 1.79% of the workforce in Charleston, WV have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Charleston, WV compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
82%
Carpooled
9.01%
Walked
3.14%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Charleston, WV was Drove Alone (82%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.01%) and those who Walked (3.14%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Charleston, WV distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Charleston, WV have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

Health

93.8% of the population of Charleston, WV has health coverage, with 41.8% on employee plans, 24.6% on Medicaid, 15.5% on Medicare, 10.1% on non-group plans, and 1.78% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in West Virginia was $9,462 in 2014. This is a 5.5% increase from the previous year ($8,969).

Primary care physicians in West Virginia see 1273 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.47% decrease from the previous year (1292 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1917 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 890 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (19.7%). Additionally, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (44.6%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

1,273 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in West Virginia

Primary care physicians in West Virginia see an average of 1,273 patients per year. This represents a 1.47% decrease from the previous year (1,292 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in West Virginia in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

$9,462

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in West Virginia

$3,917

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$6,557

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,268

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in West Virginia (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.5%, from $8,969 to $9,462.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

6.21%

Uninsured

41.8%

Employer Coverage

24.6%

Medicaid

15.5%

Medicare

10.1%

Non-Group

1.78%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Charleston, WV declined by 16.5% from 7.44% to 6.21%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Charleston, WV changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.