The Town FilesCharles Town, West Virginia
City in Jefferson County · population 6,534 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $377,700
- Household income
- $89,263
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.5
Charles Town is a city of 6,534 people in Jefferson County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $377,700, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of West Virginia towns, better for cycling than 98% of West Virginia towns, more upscale than 93% of West Virginia towns.
- #2 in The 21 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in West Virginia
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- #17 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in West Virginia
- #17 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #18 in 20 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Mildest Winters
How Charles Town ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charles Town is worth $377,700, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $89,263, which is more affordable than 6% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,115 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charles Town | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,700 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,115 | $811 |
| Median household income | $89,263 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Charles Town
| People | Charles Town | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Charles Town
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 39.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charles Town since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 16, 1989 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2002.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4378: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 17,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,812 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Charles Town itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Charles Town
5 public schools with 3,161 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High School | 9-12 | 1,384 | 18.2 |
| Charles Town Middle School | 6-8 | 631 | 12.9 |
| South Jefferson Elementary School | PK-5 | 448 | 17.2 |
| Page Jackson Elementary | PK-2 | 361 | 17.2 |
| Wright Denny Intermediate School | 3-5 | 337 | 14.0 |
Towns near Charles Town
- Ranson corporation, WV3.2 mi · 5,433 people · home $242,700
- Shannondale, WV5.2 mi · 3,487 people · home $293,600
- Berryville, VA9.6 mi · 4,574 people · home $550,500
- Inwood, WV11.2 mi · 3,426 people · home $268,400
- Purcellville, VA12.6 mi · 8,929 people · home $654,200
- Lovettsville, VA12.9 mi · 2,694 people · home $543,700
- Brunswick, MD14.2 mi · 7,762 people · home $374,500
- Martinsburg, WV14.4 mi · 18,777 people · home $240,000
Charles Town questions
Is Charles Town, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charles Town scores better for retirees than 83% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 24%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Charles Town?
The median owner-occupied home in Charles Town is valued at $377,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,263, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,115 a month.
What is the weather like in Charles Town?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Charles Town get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charles Town since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 16, 1989. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)