The typical owner-occupied home in Charleston is worth about $203,300, 25% above the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 39% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,447 a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of their home's value, higher than the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $65,812 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 63% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Charleston at a glance
| Charleston | West Virginia | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,300 | $162,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,447 | $865 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.71% | 0.53% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $65,812 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 63% | 75% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 55% | 46% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,363 | $1,255 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.5% | 17.3% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $908 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.2% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1957 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 17.3% | 15.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 47,421 | 1,778,373 | 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 $203,300 with 20% down costs about $1,299 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,638, 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 $55,675 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Charleston household income of $65,812; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $240,000.
The median rent here is $908 a month, so owning the median home costs about $391 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $40,660 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $162,640 |
| Principal and interest | $1,094 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $120 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $85 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,299 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,116 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $199,618 |
| Principal and interest | $1,343 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $120 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $85 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $90 |
| Total per month | $1,638 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Charleston
What is the median home value in Charleston?
About $203,300 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 $1,447 a year, which is about 0.71% 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 $1,299 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $55,675 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