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.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Charleston ranks

All →

#16Lowest depression in MO #49Lowest property tax in MO #51Most affordable in MO All MO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code63834

Area code573

Living in Charleston

Housing in Charleston

$85K▲ 2.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Charleston home is worth about $85,000, up 2.6% in a year, 68% below the Missouri typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Charleston

Safety Grade D

Charleston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 91% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Charleston 8.6

Missouri 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Charleston 16.8

Missouri 16.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Charleston

Full picture →

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.

Sikeston

18%

Cape Girardeau

Miner

Dexter

26%Work in townlive and work in Charleston 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,271Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Charleston →

Health in Charleston

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 3% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 29% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Missouri

1better than MO·20worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 7▼ 4 close Habits 3▼ 1 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.9%Fewer adults who have had cancerMO 8.6% · better 28%More adults facing food insecurityMO 13.7% · worse

Care nearby

Missouri Delta Medical CenterSikeston · 14 mi · ER

East Prairie Dental CenterEast Prairie · 9.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Charleston · CMS · HRSAHealth in Charleston →

Natural hazards in Charleston

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 88% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌪️ Tornadoes🌊 Inland flooding

7Does Charleston flood?paid flood claims since 1997 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Charleston

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Charleston →

Climate in Charleston

Full climate →

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.

47° / 30°Winter

69° / 48°Spring

88° / 68°Summer

70° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Charleston get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 31, with the last in spring around Apr 2.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Charleston →

Schools in Charleston

All Charleston schools →

School Grade D

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.

See how Charleston’s schools compare in MO →

DistrictCHARLESTON R-ISchools5

Warren E. Hearnes Elem. DElementary · Grades PK–3 · 276 students St. Henry Catholic SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 53 students Charleston Middle School DMiddle · Grades 4–6 · 141 students Charleston High C-High · Grades 7–12 · 310 students Southeast Correctional CenterHigh · Grades 7–12

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.