Home › WV › Charleston, WV Cost of living in Charleston, WV Livability score 77 · cost-of-living index 89.1 (US = 100)
How Charleston compares Where Charleston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $149k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $149k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $88 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $88 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.65% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.65% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 280 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 280 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 84° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 84° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 26° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 26° Map of Charleston Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.1 metro-area #17 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.3 metro-area #66 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.07 metro-area #17 of 200 Median household income $54,473 metro-area #193 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,324 metro-area #138 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 43.9 years metro-area #186 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 26.9% metro-area #161 of 200 Foreign-born residents 1.6% metro-area #197 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 71.3% metro-area #26 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.76% metro-area #142 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +17.3% metro-area #5 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $148,817 metro-area #1 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 2.7× metro-area #2 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.0% metro-area #136 of 200 Price per square foot $88 metro-area #1 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,701 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,265 metro-area #20 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 616 Median days on market 14 metro-area #76 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% state #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.55% state #46 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.82% Capital gains tax 5.12% state #121 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.65% metro-area #43 of 200 Median property tax paid $817 metro-area #7 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 70.7 years metro-area #198 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,200 state #139 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.4% metro-area #84 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 120 metro-area #8 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 state #25 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $60 state #19 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.66% of value (~$465/yr) state #163 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #110 of 200 Commute by driving alone 78.2% metro-area #149 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 27.6% metro-area #58 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 16.1¢/kWh state #70 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $145 state #70 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal state #94 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $68 state #94 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $253 state #198 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $73 state #13 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,700 state #80 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 89.2 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #92 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 40 metro-area #40 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 900 metro-area #66 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 89% state #141 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,900 metro-area #125 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 16 metro-area #75 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 84°F metro-area #37 of 200 Avg winter low 26°F metro-area #119 of 200 Annual precipitation 45.5" metro-area #129 of 200 Annual snowfall 12.0" metro-area #111 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 55% metro-area #150 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 280 state #21 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,900 state #63 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Charleston Major public and private employers in the Charleston, WV area.
Employer Sector Jobs Charleston Area Medical Center Healthcare Careers → United Bank of West Virginia Finance Careers → West Virginia-American Water Company Energy Careers → State of West Virginia Government Careers → Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing Manufacturing Search →
Salaries by occupation in Charleston Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $152,820 Pharmacists $131,220 Physician Assistants $121,710 Human Resources Managers $106,950 Software Developers $102,110 Financial Managers $98,530 Physical Therapists $96,570 Mechanical Engineers $95,560 Marketing Managers $92,830 Civil Engineers $85,540 Construction Managers $77,480 General & Operations Managers $76,710 Registered Nurses $76,270 Data Scientists $67,410 Electricians $65,020 Dental Hygienists $63,660 Accountants & Auditors $62,990 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $59,640 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $51,410 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,930 Elementary School Teachers $49,310 Carpenters $47,400 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $46,630 Graphic Designers $44,800 Medical Assistants $34,200
Cities in the Charleston area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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