Rows tagged local are specific to South Charleston (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from Charleston, WV. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 5/10 (district 5400600 · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
89.1
metro-area
#0 of 200
Grocery index (US=100)
95.3
metro-area
#0 of 200
Big Mac price (est.)
$5.07
metro-area
#0 of 200
Median household income
$58,756
local
#0 of 200
Median wage (all occupations)
$38,036
local
#0 of 200
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
6.86%
local
#0 of 200
Population growth (5-yr)
+4.8%
local
#0 of 200
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$146,700
local
#0 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
2.5×
local
#0 of 200
1-yr home appreciation
+0.0%
metro-area
#0 of 200
Price per square foot
$86
local
#0 of 200
Typical home size (implied)
1,700 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$832
local
#0 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory)
616
Median days on market
14
metro-area
#0 of 200
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
9.8%
state
#0 of 200
Combined sales tax
6.55%
state
#0 of 200
State income tax (top rate)
4.82%
Capital gains tax
5.12%
state
#0 of 200
High earners
No special surtax
Effective property tax rate
0.71%
local
#0 of 200
Median property tax paid
$1,048
local
#0 of 200
Healthcare & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$7,200
state
#0 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$9,000
state
#0 of 200
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$60
state
#0 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)
1.66% of value (~$465/yr)
state
#0 of 200
Emissions testing
Not required
Emissions detail
No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices
4
Avg commute to work
19 min
local
#0 of 200
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
16.1¢/kWh
state
#0 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill
$145
state
#0 of 200
Gasoline
$3.30/gal
state
#0 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$68
state
#0 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$253
state
#0 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$73
state
#0 of 200
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,300
state
#0 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)
$1,700
state
#0 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient.
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$650
state
#0 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$100
state
#0 of 200
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
40
metro-area
#0 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
900
metro-area
#0 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)
4,900
metro-area
#0 of 200
Avg summer high
84°F
metro-area
#0 of 200
Avg winter low
26°F
metro-area
#0 of 200
Annual precipitation
45.5"
metro-area
#0 of 200
Annual snowfall
12.0"
metro-area
#0 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)
55%
metro-area
#0 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
#0 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
1,900
state
#0 of 200
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
120
metro-area
#0 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
#0 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.