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Charleston vs Shaw

50 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.1× in Charleston) and growth since 2010 (+11.3 pts in Charleston).

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Charleston, MSOne of the healthiest townsMississippi · 1,979 people

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Shaw, MSOne of the healthiest townsMississippi · 1,508 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CharlestonOne of the healthiest towns

Health96% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Work1,138 jobsbased in Charleston, a regional job hub Housing$113K typical home43% below the MS typical home All about Charleston →

ShawOne of the healthiest towns

Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$93K typical home53% below the MS typical home SchoolsBetter than 12%of MS districts All about Shaw →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker7.1×

Charleston is more of a job hub

Charleston 1.98Shaw 0.28

Growth since 2010+11.3 pts

Charleston has grown faster since 2010

Charleston -14.1%Shaw -25.4%

Work in town+20.3 pts

More of Charleston’s workers stay in town

Charleston 23.8%Shaw 3.5%

Rent runs higher in Charleston

Charleston $683Shaw $556

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Charleston

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Charleston$760/mo

Typical home $113K (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $683/mo · Housing →

Shaw$550/mo

Typical home $93K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $556/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Charleston and Shaw.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Mississippi ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

CCharlestonBetter than 31% of districts in the state DShawBetter than 12% of districts in the state

Health

D−CharlestonHealthier than 4% of U.S. towns D−ShawHealthier than under 1% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

CharlestonShaw

Snow a year0″2″

January low32°F 33°F

July high92°F 92°F

Growing season (days)233d 248d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)71st 65th

Outdoors & history

CharlestonShaw

National Register places1 1

Archive photos—10

Famous people born here—6

Community

CharlestonShaw

Library hours a week35 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

50 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CharlestonMS ShawMS

Charleston ↔ Shaw50 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Mississippi average

CharlestonShaw

People

Population 1,979Highest 1,508Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -14.1%Highest -25.4%Lowest

Median age 38.3±8.2Lowest about the MS average 38.8±7.8Highest about the MS average

Shaw and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 25.1%±3.4Lowest MS: 23.3% 26.7%±7Highest MS: 23.3%

Shaw and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 19.8%±3.4Highest MS: 17.2% 17.8%±5.3Lowest MS: 17.2%

Charleston and Shaw are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.3%Highest MS: 25.1% 16.3%Lowest MS: 25.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±1.8Lowest MS: 6.1% 4.8%±3.4Highest MS: 6.1%

Shaw and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $36,892±$9kHighest 35% below MS $30,469±$11kLowest 46% below MS

Charleston and Shaw are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $88,800±$13kLowest 48% below MS $102,100±$96kHighest 40% below MS

Shaw and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $683±$49Highest 28% below MS $556±$51Lowest 42% below MS

Property taxmedian, yearly — $828 32% below MS

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 26.6%±3.1Lowest MS: 51.3% 45.9%±21.7Highest MS: 51.3%

Shaw and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 27.1%Lowest MS: 18.9% 37.5%Highest MS: 18.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 59.8%Lowest MS: 70% 62.8%Highest MS: 70%

Typical home builtmedian year 1978Highest 8 yrs older than MS 1976Lowest 10 yrs older than MS

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 18% below MS 23 minHighest 12% below MS

Work from home 17.6%±20.4Highest MS: 5.9% 0%±2.5Lowest MS: 5.9%

Charleston and Shaw are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 23.8%Highest 3.5%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.3 miHighest 20.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.98Highest 0.28Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Grenada (9%)Cleveland (19%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ShawFew work in Charleston

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.2%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 102Lowest 120Highest

Schools

School district East Tallahatchie School DistrictWest Bolivar Consolidated School District

High school in town Charleston High SchoolShaw High School

Students per teacherat that high school 13.7Highest 11.4Lowest

Mississippi average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Charleston neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Charleston’s Town Square.

Shaw neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shaw’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Charleston and Shaw

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Charleston

Quitman2,161 people · $119K homes

Marks1,377 people · $97K homes

Tylertown2,024 people · $117K homes

Shelby1,700 people · $90K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Mississippi towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.