The Town FilesCharleroi, Pennsylvania
Borough in Washington County · population 4,234 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $52,800
- Household income
- $43,265
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.4
Charleroi is a borough of 4,234 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $52,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Cheapest Homes
- #5 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #5 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania With Little Snow
- #16 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #20 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #21 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Pennsylvania
How Charleroi ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleroi is worth $52,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $43,265, which is more affordable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleroi | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $52,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $907 | $996 |
| Median household income | $43,265 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Charleroi
| People | Charleroi | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Charleroi
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleroi since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 11, 2024 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 27, 2022.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Charleroi itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Charleroi
4 public schools with 1,378 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleroi Area El Ctr | K-5 | 603 | 13.1 |
| Charleroi Area HS | 9-12 | 462 | 14.9 |
| Charleroi Area MS | 6-8 | 310 | 13.5 |
| Mon Valley Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | 3 | 0.2 |
Towns near Charleroi
- Monessen, PA1.3 mi · 6,876 people · home $95,900
- Carroll, PA3.2 mi · 5,380 people · home $189,300
- Donora, PA3.5 mi · 4,569 people · home $62,300
- Fallowfield, PA3.5 mi · 4,099 people · home $163,900
- Monongahela, PA3.9 mi · 4,159 people · home $114,300
- Washington, PA4.9 mi · 3,894 people · home $135,200
- California, PA5.0 mi · 5,362 people · home $152,200
- Rostraver, PA5.5 mi · 11,393 people · home $228,300
Charleroi questions
Is Charleroi, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleroi scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 4%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Charleroi?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleroi is valued at $52,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,265, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleroi?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Charleroi get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleroi since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 11, 2024. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)