City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Charles, WV

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

6,854
Residents
$94,830
Median income
$359,500
Median home
$1,251
Median rent (state)

Charles - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Charles lands in the 74th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

74th
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Charles, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 6,854 residents in Charles, a small town within West Virginia. Charles households earn a median of $94,830 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.0%. Typical homes in Charles are valued around $359,500, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. 38.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 226 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 9999% from five years earlier.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,251 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $220 across West Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 47.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

6,854 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$94,830 /yr

Poverty 4.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Charles compare to other US cities?

Where Charles sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 74% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Charles's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in West Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

74thIncome percentile

74th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Charles's home value compares nationally

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

$359,500 27th percentile more affordable than 27% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Charles $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 - Charles, WV Charles, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Charles, WV-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 Charles, WV median $94,830/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%
Charles, WV'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 Charles, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 38.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.5%

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

Population
6,854
Median Income
$94,830
Median Home Value
$359,500
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Labor force participation
65.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
38.1%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,000 residents7,000 residents8,000 residents9,000 residents10,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,529 residents 9,329 residents ▲ +42.9%
Charles's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
226
housing units authorized
Single-Family
85
detached homes
Multifamily
141
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
33
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 5
2021 304
2022 257
2023 563
2024 226

Permit volume increased 9999% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.4%
Carpool
7.1%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
16.2%
Other
2.2%

Based on 3,260 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia 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 West Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Charles sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,251/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Elkins
6,875 people
Hurricane
6,891 people
Nitro
6,941 people
Pea Ridge
7,188 people
Brookhaven
6,465 people
Dunbar
7,340 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Charles's 6,854 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lanett, AL
6,854 people
Corcoran, MN
6,854 people
Port LaBelle, FL
6,856 people
Maple Glen, PA
6,851 people
Medina, MN
6,858 people
Ben Lomond, CA
6,849 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Charles's $94,830 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sewickley, PA
$94,828 median income
Lake Catherine, IL
$94,821 median income
Candlewick Lake, IL
$94,820 median income
Pleasant Hill, MO
$94,840 median income
West Hollywood, CA
$94,844 median income
North Lima, OH
$94,844 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Charles, WV 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 Charles, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 72.3% 12.1% 12.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.4% White 72.3% Black or African American 12.1% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 12.5% 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 Charles compares to nearby West Virginia cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Charles (this city) 6,854 $94,830
Elkins 6,875 $47,746
Hurricane 6,891 $67,083
Nitro 6,941 $52,247
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Charles, WV?

What is the population of Charles, WV? +

Charles, WV has a population of 6,854 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Charles, WV? +

Median annual household income in Charles runs $94,830, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Charles? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Charles; the closest available measure is the West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Charles, WV? +

Homes in Charles carry a median value of $359,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.