What are the schools like in Charleston, MO?

Charleston is served primarily by CHARLESTON R-I. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Charleston?

The median household income in Charleston, MO is $29,306 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.9%.

What is the weather like in Charleston, MO?

Charleston has an average high temperature of 43.4°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.1 inches.

Charleston, MO Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Charleston, MO affordable or expensive?

Charleston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Charleston is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $90,700 and the median rent is $688 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Charleston, MO?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 809.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1551.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Charleston, MO a Good Place to Live?

Charleston is a small town of 4,683 in Missouri, with a median household income of $29,306 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Charleston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 87.9

Charleston's overall cost of living index is 87.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Charleston costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Charleston, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$90,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$688	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$29,306	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Charleston's violent crime rate is 809.5 per 100,000 residents — 113% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

809.5 /100k

Property Crime

1551.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Charleston is served primarily by CHARLESTON R-I. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Charleston, MO	National Avg
School District	CHARLESTON R-I	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Charleston sees average highs of 43.4°F in January and 88.7°F in July, with 52.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Charleston, MO
Average High — January	43.4°F
Average High — July	88.7°F
Annual Precipitation	52.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.1"

Demographics

Metric	Charleston, MO	National Avg
Population	4,683	—
Median Age	42.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	58.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	12.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wilson City, MO 6 mi Diehlstadt, MO 6 mi Anniston, MO 6 mi Bertrand, MO 7 mi Whiting, MO 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Charleston

Charleston, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

63834

Charleston vs Other Cities

Charleston, MO vs Wilson City, MO Charleston, MO vs Diehlstadt, MO Charleston, MO vs Anniston, MO Charleston, MO vs Bertrand, MO Charleston, MO vs Whiting, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston, MO affordable or expensive?

Charleston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Charleston roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $90,700 and median rent is $688/month.

What is the crime rate in Charleston, MO?

Charleston's violent crime rate is 809.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1551.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Charleston?

Public schools in Charleston are operated by CHARLESTON R-I. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 9.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Charleston, MO a good place to live?

Charleston, MO has a population of 4,683, a median household income of $29,306, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Charleston?

Charleston averages 43.4°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.0 inches with about 3.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Charleston?

Charleston, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63834.

What is the population of Charleston?

The population of Charleston, Missouri is 4,683 with a median age of 42.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Charleston?

Key numbers for living in Charleston: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $90,700, median household income $29,306, crime index 157 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.