The typical owner-occupied home in Charleston is worth about $156,300, 17% below the Arkansas median of $188,000 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $611 a year in property taxes, about 0.39% of their home's value, lower than the Arkansas rate of 0.55%. The median household earns $56,600 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (3.1 times for Arkansas). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Charleston at a glance
| Charleston | Arkansas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,300 | $188,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $611 | $1,040 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.39% | 0.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,600 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 66% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 63% | 53% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,375 | $1,345 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.1% | 18.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $764 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.9% | 27.6% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1977 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.4% | 13.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,646 | 3,049,391 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Charleston
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Charleston home of $156,300 with 20% down costs about $957 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,217, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $41,017 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 20% of the median Charleston household income of $56,600; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $216,000.
The median rent here is $764 a month, so owning the median home costs about $193 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $31,260 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $125,040 |
| Principal and interest | $841 |
| Property taxes (0.39% a year) | $51 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $65 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $957 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,470 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $153,469 |
| Principal and interest | $1,032 |
| Property taxes (0.39% a year) | $51 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $65 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $69 |
| Total per month | $1,217 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Charleston
What is the median home value in Charleston?
About $156,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Charleston?
Homeowners pay a median $611 a year, which is about 0.39% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Charleston?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $957 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,017 a year.
More about Charleston
- Mortgage Refinance in Charleston
- Debt Relief in Charleston
- Home Equity Loans in Charleston
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data