Charleston: Demographics & People
Census counts 47,421 people in Charleston, in 21,116 households. Population shrank 1.0% from 47,918 (2022) to 47,421 (2024). Median age 43.0 years. (0.8y younger than Kanawha County; 0.8y older than West Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 76% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.31). 54% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,625 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs West Virginia avg 2.3).
- 46% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs West Virginia 44%).
- 67 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs West Virginia 70).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.0% from 47,918 (2022) to 47,421 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~46,929 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 46,276.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 180,745 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 47,918 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 47,421 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 47,421 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Population Estimate | 46,276 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.0y is 4.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.0 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 47,421 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 9,039 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 10,258.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 18,117.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 10,007 |
| Population under 18 | 9,039 |
| Median age | 43.0 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 47,421 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.31 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 36,691 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 5,676 |
| Asian residents | 1,293 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 925 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 30.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 82.3% |
| Asian population | 2.6% (vs West Virginia 0.6%) |
| Black population | 9.5% (vs West Virginia 2.9%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.2% (at West Virginia median) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 76.4% (vs West Virginia 88.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 33,998 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 11,084 |
| Share born in this state | 71.7% |
| Share born in another state | 28.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 23.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2,116 |
| From Europe | 442 |
| From Africa | 1,045 |
| From Latin America | 30 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 7 |
Households & Family Composition
21,116 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 54% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 11,449 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 8,833 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 11,449 |
| Married couples with children | 2,539 |
| Single-parent households | 291 |
| Average household size | 2.16 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 590 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 186 |
| Family households | 11,362 households (vs West Virginia 1,846) |
| Households that are families | 53.8% (vs West Virginia 55.6%) |
| Total households | 21,116 households (vs West Virginia 2,965) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 11.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,625 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 11.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 147,052 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 148,677 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,625 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 4,483 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 9.5% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 2,044 residents live in group quarters (4.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 2,044 |
|---|
Veterans
| Veterans Services · Total count | 1 |
|---|
Sources: IRS BMF keyword
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 54039 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 54 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 039 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Kanawha |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 23.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 28.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 54039 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Kanawha County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 13,015 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 54039 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Kanawha County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 75.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 67.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 55.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 178,124 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 29 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 20 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 47,421, declining, established, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 47,421 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Town Summary · County | Kanawha County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade