City · Arkansas
Charleston, Arkansas
Charleston, city, in Franklin County, Arkansas. Charleston had 2,760 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,588 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,646 (±23). GEOID 0513300.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,760
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,588 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,646 ±23
Median household income
$56,600
±$11,302 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$156,300
±$19,995 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$764
±$151 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Charleston and what county is it in?
Charleston is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas. It covers 3.8 square miles of land, 675 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Charleston, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,760 people lived in Charleston on July 1, 2025, up 7.1% since 2020, faster than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 2,588 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,646 (±23).
| Measure | Charleston | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,646 ±23 | 17,326 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,040 ±112 | 7,048 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.45 ±0.26 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,111 ±121 | 7,757 | no clear change |
Charleston's population since 2000
From 2,965 in 2000 to 2,760 in 2025: down 6.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Charleston as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Charleston?
The median resident of Charleston is 37.6 years old; 29.6% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 12.3%.
| Measure | Charleston | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 ±2.3 | 42.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.6% ±5.0 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.6% ±4.4 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±4.5 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.2% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.6% ±7.3 pts | 86.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 12.3% ±7.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2% ±1.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.5% ±4.6 pts | 10.4% | – |
| With a disability | 18.0% ±4.9 pts | 21.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.2% ±4.2 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.6% ±4.4 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.5% ±6.9 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5% ±2.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.0% ±4.5 pts | 88.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±1.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Charleston earn?
Half of Charleston's 1,040 households earn less than $56,600 a year (±$11,302), against $55,886 in Franklin County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $57,265 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Charleston | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,600 ±$11,302 | $55,886 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $68,813 ±$7,993 | $72,644 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,303 ±$3,270 | $29,603 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.9% ±4.0 pts | 18.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.3% ±6.5 pts | 23.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3% ±5.3 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.0% ±4.8 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.8% ±6.5 pts | 78.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Charleston?
Owners occupy 72.2% of Charleston's occupied homes and renters 27.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,300 by its owner (±$19,995). The median renter pays $764 a month including utilities, and 27.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Charleston | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,300 ±$19,995 | $130,800 | +$43,076 |
| Median gross rent | $764 ±$151 | $719 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 27.1% ±17.7 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,375 ±$228 | $1,149 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.2% ±8.0 pts | 78.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.8% ±8.0 pts | 22.0% | – |
| Housing units | 1,111 ±121 | 7,757 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±12.9 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.7% ±7.3 pts | 74.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% ±4.0 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.0% ±5.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.6% ±5.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.2% ±4.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Charleston building?
Builders took permits for 9 new housing units in Charleston in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 3.3 per 1,000 residents against 5.0 across Arkansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Charleston work and get to work?
75.4% of Charleston's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 35.2 minutes.
| Measure | Charleston | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.3% ±6.0 pts | 53.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.4% ±9.2 pts | 81.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.8% ±7.9 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.8% ±5.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 35.2 min ±8.1 | 23.2 min | +10.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Charleston?
1 census tract lies mostly in Charleston (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9503.02Franklin County | 2,974 | $61,048 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Charleston) · Census block assignment files
How does Charleston compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Charleston is the 6,604th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 109th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Charleston ranks 71st of 194 places in Arkansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 109th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 41st | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 101st | 197 |
| Median household income | 71st | 194 |
| Per capita income | 99th | 197 |
| Median home value | 96th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 115th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 149th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71st | 189 |
| Median age | 98th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 50th | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 4th | 197 |
Charleston's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Charleston with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Charleston?
22 of the 57 figures for Charleston on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Charleston are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Charleston.