The Town FilesSouth Charleston, West Virginia
City in Kanawha County · population 13,647 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,400
- Household income
- $63,884
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.7
South Charleston is a city of 13,647 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $155,400, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better transit than 88% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 87% of West Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 83% of West Virginia towns.
How South Charleston 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 South Charleston is worth $155,400, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $63,884, which is more affordable than 57% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Charleston | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,400 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $844 | $811 |
| Median household income | $63,884 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in South Charleston
| People | South Charleston | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in South Charleston
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Charleston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 2, 2024 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on October 7, 2014.
Severe weather in Kanawha County since 1996
Kanawha County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, chemical.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Kanawha County
Kanawha County had 97,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,997 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in South Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in South Charleston
6 public schools with 2,093 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Charleston High School | 9-12 | 913 | 18.3 |
| Bridgeview Elementary School | PK-5 | 421 | 12.4 |
| South Charleston Middle School | 6-8 | 364 | 15.8 |
| Richmond Elementary School | PK-5 | 228 | 11.4 |
| Alum Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 149 | 12.4 |
| WIN Academy at BVCTC (charter) | 11-12 | 18 | — |
Towns near South Charleston
- Dunbar, WV2.4 mi · 7,480 people · home $119,600
- Charleston, WV4.3 mi · 48,864 people · home $203,300
- St. Albans, WV6.4 mi · 10,861 people · home $140,800
- Nitro, WV7.2 mi · 6,624 people · home $128,900
- Cross Lanes, WV7.3 mi · 9,727 people · home $153,800
- Sissonville, WV11.9 mi · 4,084 people · home $180,800
- Pinch, WV13.4 mi · 2,914 people · home $221,500
- Teays Valley, WV13.7 mi · 14,350 people · home $278,000
South Charleston questions
Is South Charleston, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Charleston scores better for retirees than 10% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 23%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in South Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in South Charleston is valued at $155,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,884, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in South Charleston?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does South Charleston get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2024. 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)