Charleston is a small town of 2,585 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $63,661
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Charleston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Charleston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Charleston city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.1
Charleston's overall cost of living index is 85.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Charleston costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Charleston, AR
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$737
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,661
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Charleston's violent crime rate is 514.0 per 100,000 residents
— 35% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
514.0 /100k
Property Crime
1174.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Charleston is served primarily by CHARLESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Charleston, AR
National Avg
School District
CHARLESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Charleston sees average highs of 50.0°F in January
and 92.1°F in July,
with 50.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Charleston's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Charleston roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,600 and median rent is $737/month.
Charleston's violent crime rate is 514.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1174.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Charleston are operated by CHARLESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Charleston, AR has a population of 2,585, a median household income of $63,661, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Charleston averages 50.0°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.6 inches
with about 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Charleston, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72933.
The population of Charleston, Arkansas is 2,585 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Charleston: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $119,600, median household income $63,661, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Charleston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
