The Town FilesCharleston, Missouri
City in Mississippi County · population 5,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,700
- Household income
- $33,952
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 41.8
Charleston is a city of 5,056 people in Mississippi County, Missouri. The median home is worth $123,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Missouri towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $123,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $33,952, which is more affordable than 15% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $774 | $855 |
| Median household income | $33,952 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 22, 1981 about 6.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2006.
Severe weather in Mississippi County since 1996
Mississippi County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mississippi County
Mississippi County had 3,074 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,184 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Charleston
4 public schools with 776 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLESTON HIGH | 7-12 | 331 | 12.7 |
| WARREN E. HEARNES ELEM. | PK-3 | 286 | 14.3 |
| CHARLESTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 4-6 | 159 | 13.3 |
| SOUTHEAST CORRECTIONAL CENTER | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Charleston
- East Prairie, MO9.9 mi · 2,943 people · home $68,400
- Sikeston, MO14.2 mi · 16,291 people · home $168,800
- Scott City, MO24.0 mi · 4,346 people · home $147,500
- Chaffee, MO25.7 mi · 3,057 people · home $117,400
- New Madrid, MO25.8 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Cape Girardeau, MO29.8 mi · 39,540 people · home $196,300
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 33% of Missouri towns and quieter than 30%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $123,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,952, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 22, 1981. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)