City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Charleston, TN

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.

816
Residents
$72,208
Median income
$185,000
Median home
$1,233
Median rent (state)

Charleston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Charleston places in the 53rd percentile for household income and the 51st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

53rd
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
51st
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, TN

816 people live in Charleston, Tennessee - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Charleston brings in $72,208 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.5%. Home values in Charleston run a median of $185,000, and the median resident age is 48.6 years. About 9.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Charleston reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1331.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Tennessee at 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,233 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Tennessee run around $218, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 25.3 minutes, with 87.4% driving alone and 2.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 73.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

816 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$72,208 /yr

Poverty 2.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Charleston compare to other US cities?

Here's how Charleston stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities
Safety 51% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Tennessee, Charleston ranks #76 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Tennessee-relative analysis

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

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Charleston ranks #399 - 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
#118 of 458
74th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#168 of 482
62nd percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#214 of 455
53rd percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#399 of 482
17th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#387 of 482
19th percentile in Tennessee

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 Tennessee only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

53rdIncome percentile
51stSafety percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income · 51st 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 55 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+)

$185,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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, TN Charleston, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Charleston, TN-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, TN median $72,208/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, TN'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, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.3%

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

Population
816
Median Income
$72,208
Median Home Value
$185,000
Median Age
48.6
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Labor force participation
60.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1331.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
444.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
887.9
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
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
860 residents880 residents900 residents920 residents940 residents 202020212022202320242025 878 residents 923 residents ▲ +5.1%
Charleston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.3 minutes
Drive Alone
87.4%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
2.8%

Based on 422 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,233/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Morrison
810 people
Mooresburg
829 people
Crab Orchard
834 people
Summertown
793 people
St. Joseph
788 people
Sunbright
785 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Charleston's 816 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holly Pond, AL
816 people
Klamath, CA
816 people
Blairsville, GA
816 people
Gifford, IL
816 people
Monroe City, IN
816 people
Eldon, IA
816 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Charleston's $72,208 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oelrichs, SD
$72,212 median income
Sappington, MO
$72,213 median income
Mohnton, PA
$72,198 median income
Chelsea, MA
$72,220 median income
North Canton, OH
$72,193 median income
Wainaku, HI
$72,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Charleston, TN 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, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.7% 13.8% 7.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 75.7% Black or African American 13.8% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 7.5% 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 Tennessee 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) 816 $72,208
Morrison 810 $34,236
Mooresburg 829 $36,875
Crab Orchard 834 $44,708
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Charleston, TN?

What is the population of Charleston, TN? +

The population of Charleston, TN stands at 816 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Charleston households earn a median of $72,208 annually, 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 Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Charleston, TN safe? +

Charleston has a total crime rate of 1331.9 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, TN? +

The median home value in Charleston is $185,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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

Verify with HUD →

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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.