CharlestonMO
A town of 4,482, settled in 1837. Healthier than 97% of U.S. towns.
Population
4,482
−15% since 2010
Typical home
$85K
+2.6% in a year
Household income
$34K
median
Jobs based here
1,271
Balanced
What makes Charleston stand out The 3 things Charleston does most differently from other towns.
A shrinking town Charleston has shrunk 15% since 2010 5,947 people in 2010; 4,482 today.
What’s changed most in Charleston? 5,947 2010
5,056 2020
4,482 Today
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Residents weigh in
Charleston is #255 of 256 in MO for “Lowest obesity”. Fair?
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In the news: Notre Dame Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Charleston → Is Charleston still affordable for young families? → How do you get to work from Charleston? → How does Charleston prepare for bad weather? →
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar. Add an event
The data Ordered by what stands out in Charleston. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 3% of U.S. towns Charleston beats the Missouri average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20.
D− Health Grade
32 measures vs. Missouri
What stands out Charleston MO Fewer adults who have had cancer 6.9% 8.6% More adults facing food insecurity 28% 13.7%
Missouri Delta Medical Center
14 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
9th
percentile among MO towns
Housing
A typical Charleston home is worth about $85K The typical Charleston home is worth about $85,000, up 2.6% in a year, 68% below the Missouri typical home.
$85K Zillow home value
Typical home value Charleston $85K
Missouri $268K
+2.6%
value change, 1 year
Work & commute
About one in four working residents works right in Charleston About one in 4 of Charleston’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Sikeston (18%), Cape Girardeau (7%) and Miner (2%). Half commute less than 14 miles.
26% work in town
Where working residents work In Charleston 26%
Sikeston 18%
Cape Girardeau 7%
Miner 2%
Dexter 2%
14 mi
median commute distance
1,271
jobs based in Charleston
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Safety
Less crime per resident than 9% of U.S. towns Charleston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 91% report less.
D Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents Charleston 8.6
Missouri 4.3
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents Charleston 16.8
Missouri 16.9
U.S. 15.5
9th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
14th
percentile among MO towns
38
violent crimes reported in 2025
74
property crimes reported in 2025
Schools
Charleston’s public schools outperform 11% of Missouri districts The public schools Charleston’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 89% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
D School Grade
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with earthquakes at the top Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 88% of U.S. communities.
88 risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
88 Very high risk Lower Higher Earthquakes Tornadoes Inland flooding
7
paid flood claims since 1997
7
federal disasters paid out here
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers Charleston has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
3″ snow a winter
Typical low → high °F Winter 30–47°
Spring 48–69°
Summer 68–88°
Fall 48–70°
Oct 31
typical first frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
1937 · Flood refugees at mealtime. Near Charleston, Missouri · Library of Congress
Charleston’s story
189 years in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 4 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →
Landmarks 4 places in Charleston on the National Register of Historic Places.
All landmarks → Famous people from Charleston 15 notable people were born in Charleston.
See all 15 →
Charleston is a city in and the county seat of Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,056 at the 2020 census, a decrease from 5,947 in 2010. and since 1968 has been home to the annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival which highlights the old homes and gardens throughout the town.
From Wikipedia , licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Established 1837
Population 5,056
Area 4.9 sq mi
Elevation 322 ft
ZIP code 63834
Area code 573 Copyright © 2026 TownTapestry · Stitching communities together · In loving memory of John Cullinane whose interest in maps and discovering new places was contagious. Share TownTapestry to support usBrowse by state · Privacy · Terms 
