Charleston WV vs St. Charles MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Charleston, WV
West Virginia · Population: 47,918
- Median HH Income$64,512
- Median Home Price$164,532
- Unemployment6.3%
- Bachelor's+44.1%
St. Charles, MO
Missouri · Population: 71,542
- Median HH Income$55,578
- Median Home Price$144,200
- Unemployment4.7%
- Bachelor's+22.7%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Charleston
47,918
St. Charles
71,542
St. Charles +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Charleston
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Median Age
Charleston
42.6
St. Charles
37.9
St. Charles +
Foreign Born
Charleston
3.9%
St. Charles
4.2%
St. Charles +
White
Charleston
76.6%
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Black
Charleston
11.8%
Charleston +
St. Charles
6.7%
Asian
Charleston
2.7%
Charleston +
St. Charles
1.4%
Hispanic
Charleston
1.9%
St. Charles
7.7%
St. Charles +
Spanish at Home
Charleston
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,918 | 71,542 | St. Charles + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 37.9 | St. Charles + |
| Foreign Born | 3.9% | 4.2% | St. Charles + |
| White | 76.6% | 80.4% | St. Charles + |
| Black | 11.8% | 6.7% | Charleston + |
| Asian | 2.7% | 1.4% | Charleston + |
| Hispanic | 1.9% | 7.7% | St. Charles + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Charleston
$64,512
Charleston +
St. Charles
$55,578
Per Capita Income
Charleston
$45,967
Charleston +
St. Charles
$31,499
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Charleston
$50,163
St. Charles
$58,527
St. Charles +
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
6.3%
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
Poverty Rate
Charleston
16.5%
Charleston +
St. Charles
18.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Charleston
44.1%
Charleston +
St. Charles
22.7%
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $64,512 | $55,578 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Income | $45,967 | $31,499 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $50,163 | $58,527 | St. Charles + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 4.7% | St. Charles + |
| Poverty Rate | 16.5% | 18.7% | Charleston + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 44.1% | 22.7% | Charleston + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Charleston
$164,532
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
Homeownership Rate
Charleston
62.7%
Charleston +
St. Charles
61.4%
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $164,532 | $144,200 | St. Charles + |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 61.4% | Charleston + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
398
Charleston +
St. Charles
501
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
1999
Charleston +
St. Charles
2418
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 501 | Charleston + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 2418 | Charleston + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
40.2%
St. Charles
35.9%
St. Charles +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
15.6%
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Charleston
20.2%
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Charleston
7.4%
St. Charles
7.1%
St. Charles +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Charleston
14.3%
Charleston +
St. Charles
18.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Charleston
17.7%
St. Charles
12.5%
St. Charles +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 40.2% | 35.9% | St. Charles + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 15.6% | 10.4% | St. Charles + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.2% | 16.0% | St. Charles + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.4% | 7.1% | St. Charles + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.3% | 18.4% | Charleston + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 17.7% | 12.5% | St. Charles + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
53.9°F
St. Charles
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
46.2 in
St. Charles
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.9°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.2 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Charleston
9.3 µg/m³
St. Charles
9.3 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Charleston
55.0%
St. Charles
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Charleston
19.2 min
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | St. Charles, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.2 min | 18.3 min | St. Charles + |
Which City is Right for You?
Charleston leads in median household income at $64,512, while st. Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $144,200. On public safety, Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and St. Charles has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Charles scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.9%.
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