City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Charleston, AR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Charleston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,611
Residents
$60,058
Median income
$116,500
Median home
$937
Median rent (state)

Charleston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Charleston places in the 35th percentile for household income and the 40th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

35th
percentile, household income
16th
percentile, home value
9th
percentile, median rent
40th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Charleston, AR

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,611 residents in Charleston, a small town within Arkansas. The typical household in Charleston brings in $60,058 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.8%. Typical homes in Charleston are valued around $116,500, and the median resident age is 40.7 years. Educational attainment runs 22.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 12 residential building permits were authorized in Charleston (Building Boom), up 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Charleston reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1688.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arkansas scores 86.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $937 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arkansas run around $210, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 86.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

2,611 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$60,058 /yr

Poverty 3.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Charleston compare to other US cities?

Charleston measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 16% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% pricier than other cities
Safety 40% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Arkansas and the picture shifts: Charleston ranks #78 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Charleston against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arkansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arkansas-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Charleston toward the bottom of Arkansas's cities

Among the 524 Arkansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Charleston ranks #431 - the 17th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Charleston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#140 of 495
72nd percentile in Arkansas
Median Gross Rent
#163 of 524
64th percentile in Arkansas
Median Home Value
#212 of 482
56th percentile in Arkansas
Poverty Rate
#431 of 524
17th percentile in Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#97 of 524
81st percentile in Arkansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arkansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

35thIncome percentile
40thSafety percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income · 40th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Charleston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Charleston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Charleston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Charleston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$116,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 84% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Charleston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Charleston, AR Charleston, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Charleston, AR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Charleston, AR median $60,058/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Charleston, AR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Charleston, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,611
Median Income
$60,058
Median Home Value
$116,500
Median Age
40.7
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Labor force participation
56.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1688.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
514.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1174.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,500 residents2,600 residents2,700 residents2,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,585 residents 2,760 residents ▲ +6.8%
Charleston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 10
2021 11
2022 18
2023 14
2024 12

Permit volume increased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.2%
Carpool
3.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
5.8%

Based on 1,162 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arkansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$210
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arkansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arkansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Charleston sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$937/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
86.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Hoxie
2,623 people
North Crossett
2,583 people
Bono
2,575 people
Harrisburg
2,574 people
Brinkley
2,651 people
England
2,568 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Charleston's 2,611 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Silver Lake, FL
2,610 people
Sheridan, IL
2,610 people
Franklin, MI
2,610 people
Granite Falls, MN
2,612 people
Graceville, FL
2,609 people
Marquette Heights, IL
2,613 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Charleston's $60,058 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cleveland, NC
$60,063 median income
Cambridge, NE
$60,066 median income
Poughkeepsie, NY
$60,050 median income
Alcoa, TN
$60,049 median income
Moreland, ID
$60,048 median income
Calabash, NC
$60,048 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Charleston, AR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Charleston, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.4% 14.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 83.4% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 14.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Charleston compares to nearby Arkansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Charleston (this city) 2,611 $60,058
Hoxie 2,623 $35,234
North Crossett 2,583 $38,750
Bono 2,575 $46,897
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Charleston, AR?

What is the population of Charleston, AR? +

Charleston, AR has a population of 2,611 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Charleston, AR? +

In Charleston, the typical household earns $60,058 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Charleston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Charleston; the closest available measure is the Arkansas state average, a cost of living index of 86.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arkansas vary by metro area.

Is Charleston, AR safe? +

Charleston has a total crime rate of 1688.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Charleston, AR? +

The median home value in Charleston is $116,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.