Charleston 53 Poor
Charleston Livability #842 ranked city in Missouri#24,671 ranked city in the USARanks better than 15% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Charleston

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Charleston?

Charleston, Missouri is a smaller city with a population of 5,691 inhabitants. Charleston is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (40%) and Black or African American (57%). All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 40% of the Charleston population is married. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Charleston is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 19 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, moving to any new area can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Charleston, Missouri could be a great experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Charleston, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, housing and more.

Charleston has a livability score of 54 out of 100 and is ranked #797 in Missouri and #24,072 in the USA. This is not a favorable rating; as this score ranks among some of the lowest in America. Living in Charleston may not be a pleasant experience. For each of the livability categories, we see that Charleston ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Charleston does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Charleston has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Charleston meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Charleston. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Charleston are simply unattainable. The median home price for Charleston homes is $117,256, which is 53% lower than the Missouri average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Charleston, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 26.5% lower than the Missouri average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Charleston

See all the best places to live around Charleston

How Do You Rate The Livability In Charleston?

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Compare Charleston, MO Livability

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      Charleston transportation information

      Statistic Charleston Missouri National
      Average one way commute19min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.9%81.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool16.6%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.6%1.9%2.8%
      Working from home1.9%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Charleston, MO data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.