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City · 47,421 residents · Kanawha County, West Virginia

Charleston , West Virginia

In Charleston, a typical home is worth $203,300 and typical rent is $908 a month. Compared with all of Kanawha County, the typical home value is 38% higher, typical household income is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $203,300

    38% above the county

    25% above West Virginia

    • Charleston
    • Kanawha
    • West Virginia

  • Typical rent

    $908a month

    About the same as the county

    4% above West Virginia

    • Charleston
    • Kanawha
    • West Virginia

  • Typical household income

    $65,812a year

    8% above the county

    10% above West Virginia

    • Charleston
    • Kanawha
    • West Virginia

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    8 points below the county

    12 points below West Virginia

    • Charleston
    • Kanawha
    • West Virginia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$162,391
1.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,351 a month
2.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Charleston is in Kanawha County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Kanawha County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Charleston apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Dunbar, the typical home value is $119,600: 41% less than in Charleston ($203,300).

  2. The typical home in Charleston is worth $203,300, 38% more than in Kanawha County as a whole ($147,300).

  3. 63% of households in Charleston own their home, against 71% in Kanawha County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Charleston

What homes there are in Charleston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Charleston, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Kanawha County, 7.

Year built

In Charleston, half of the homes were built before 1957; in Kanawha County, before 1966.

In Charleston, 18% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 55% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61% in Kanawha County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 90% of owner-occupied homes in Charleston are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Kanawha County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Kanawha County is $1,048: about 61% of rents in Charleston are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,363 a month

Kanawha County: $1,216 a month

Without a mortgage

$549 a month

Kanawha County: $447 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Kanawha County: 48%

Owning costs more in Charleston: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,363 a month; in Kanawha County, $1,216. Without one, $549.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Charleston gained value faster than in Kanawha County: 39% against 31%.

Rents in Charleston rose at about the same pace as in Kanawha County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 21%.

Income in Charleston grew faster than housing: it rose 52%, while home values changed +39% and rent +24%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCharlestonKanawha CountyWest VirginiaUnited States
Rental vacancy 12.8%9.1%6.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.7%1.2%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate0.9%1.3%3.4%
People per household 2.152.272.372.53
Drive alone 72%77%78%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%3%3%
Work from home 13%10%9%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Charleston: 12.8% is empty and offered for rent, against 9.1% in Kanawha County.

Households in Charleston are smaller: 2.15 people on average; in Kanawha County, 2.27.

Many people here do not commute at all: 13% work from home; in Kanawha County, 10%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Charleston?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Charleston, worth $203,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Charleston, which is $65,812 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $70,594 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kanawha County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Charleston. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,116 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,647

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$199,617
Total interest
$287,202
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,433 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,536 a month

  • Tight

    $1,536 to $1,974 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $1,974 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Charleston ($65,812 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,647
Principal & interest$1,352
Property tax$120
Home insurance$85
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$90

You need at least $7,116 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Charleston and Kanawha County

Charleston is in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Charleston's own numbers

Typical home value
$203,300
Typical monthly rent
$908
Typical yearly household income
$65,812
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
0.71%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Kanawha County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,048
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+34%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
13%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Kanawha County.

Everything about Kanawha County

Buying

Buying a home in Charleston

A typical home in Charleston is worth $203,300: 38% above the county and 25% above West Virginia. With the typical household income in Charleston ($65,812 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Charleston 3.1 years
  • Kanawha 2.4 years
  • West Virginia 2.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Kanawha County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Kanawha County rose 40% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Kanawha County.

Period County West Virginia U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.8% +4.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +34% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +40% +54% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Charleston next to Kanawha County, West Virginia and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Charleston $203,300
  • Kanawha $147,300
  • West Virginia $162,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Charleston $908
  • Kanawha $906
  • West Virginia $872
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Charleston $65,812
  • Kanawha $60,943
  • West Virginia $59,608
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Charleston next to Kanawha County and West Virginia
Measure Charleston Kanawha County West Virginia U.S.
Typical home value $203,300 $147,300 $162,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $908 $906 $872 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $65,812 $60,943 $59,608 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 71% 75% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,447 $964 $865 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.71% 0.65% 0.53% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 47% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kanawha County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Charleston

For a typical $203,300 home in Charleston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Charleston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,647a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,116
    Cash to close
    $13,215
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $90

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,610a month

    Down payment
    $10,165
    Cash to close
    $16,264
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $97

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,307a month

    Down payment
    $40,660
    Cash to close
    $46,759
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,495a month

    Down payment
    $30,495
    Cash to close
    $36,594
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Charleston and for Kanawha County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Charleston

0.71%of the home’s value each year

$1,447 a year for the typical owner in Charleston.

  • Charleston 0.71%
  • Kanawha 0.65%
  • West Virginia 0.53%

What West Virginia publishes $20,000 homestead exemption for owners 65 or older or disabled (West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code))

Exemptions and deadlines in West Virginia

Flood risk in Kanawha County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Kanawha County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
13%
10,173
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.8%
County West Virginia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 13% 8.1% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.8% 10% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Charleston

Typical rent in Charleston is $908 a month: about the same as the county. In Charleston, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kanawha County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,048 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.15 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Kanawha County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $730 $14.04 $29,200
1 bedroom $844 $16.23 $33,760
2 bedrooms $1,048 $20.15 $41,920
3 bedrooms $1,324 $25.46 $52,960
4 bedrooms $1,377 $26.48 $55,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Charleston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Charleston has 6 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $940 in 25301 to $1,230 in 25314.

5 of the 6 are above the fair market rent for Kanawha County ($1,048).

  • 25301 $940$1,200
  • 25304 $1,150$1,450
  • 25305 $1,050$1,330
  • 25311 $1,070$1,350
  • 25314 $1,230$1,550
  • 25387 $1,160$1,470

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Charleston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Charleston

HUD lists 46 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Charleston. These are the largest.

  • Vista View Apts 1300 Renaissance Cir, Charleston 25311 333 low-income homes · Studio: 15 · 1 bd: 151 · 2 bd: 116 · 3 bd: 48 · 4 bd: 3 · In service since 2006 · For families (304) 345-6300
  • Charleston Arbors 100 Washington St E, Charleston 25301 205 homes, 204 low-income · For older adults (304) 346-4259
  • Carroll Terrace Charleston 25311 203 homes, 199 low-income · Run by Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority · Average payment: $309 a month · Average wait: 9 months (304) 348-6451
  • Hillcrest - Oakhurst 5324 Starling Dr, Charleston 25306 154 low-income homes · Run by Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority · Average payment: $299 a month · Average wait: 15 months · Homes at several sites (304) 348-6451
  • Orchard Manor 2064 Lippert St, Charleston 25387 150 low-income homes · Run by Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority · Average payment: $278 a month · Average wait: 23 months (304) 348-6451

See all 78 buildings in Kanawha County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Charleston

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Kanawha County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Charleston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Charleston or Kanawha County. The ones below are statewide in West Virginia: they work in Charleston the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in West Virginia

  • Low Down Home Loan

    Statewide in West Virginia

    West Virginia state fund loan of up to $12,000 for the down payment and closing costs, over 15 years at 2% interest, only with the Homeownership Program mortgage. Offered by West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Charleston

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Charleston, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Religious Coalition for Community Renewal

    1117 Quarrier St, Charleston · 0 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (304) 346-6398

  • Southern Appalachian Labor School Foundation, Inc.

    140 School Street, Oak Hill · 37 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 3 more
    (304) 250-7627

  • Housing Authority of Mingo County

    5026 Helena Avenue, Delbarton · 53 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (304) 475-4663

Every agency in Kanawha County All counseling agencies in West Virginia

Help in Spanish near Charleston

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Charleston

HUD’s record names them for Charleston or Kanawha County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (304) 348-6451

3 other authorities have an office in Kanawha County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Kanawha County

These cities are also in Kanawha County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Kanawha County Housing in West Virginia

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Charleston, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Kanawha County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Charleston.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Charleston

Short answers with the numbers for Charleston and all of Kanawha County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Charleston?

The typical home value in Charleston is $203,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kanawha County it is $147,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Charleston?

Typical rent in Charleston is $908 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kanawha County is $1,048.

What is the FHA loan limit in Charleston?

Charleston uses the FHA limit for all of Kanawha County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Charleston?

The typical homeowner in Charleston pays $1,447 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.71% of the home’s value; in Kanawha County, the rate is 0.65%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Charleston?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Kanawha County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).