South Charleston, WV
Census place 5475292 · pop 13,457
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
19.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
32.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
87.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$63,884 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
80/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
37.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
40 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
70.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+7.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$155,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$998/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for South Charleston: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is South Charleston, WV a good place to live?
- By the numbers, South Charleston scores 59/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is poor mental health. West Virginia overall ranks #17 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is South Charleston, WV expensive to live in?
- South Charleston has a median home value of $155,400 and typical rent around $998/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in South Charleston, WV?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.1%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is South Charleston, WV best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($998/mo) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.