Cost of living in the Charleston Metro Area
3 counties across WV. Population: 207,456.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Charleston Metro Area
Average rent across the Charleston metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Charleston Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Charleston Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Charleston Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Charleston Metro Area
The Charleston metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Kanawha County WV$2,794/moPop178,198 Rent$856/mo Income$58,887/yrKanawha County WV 178,198 $856/mo $58,887/yr $2,794/mo
- Boone County WV$2,616/moPop21,312 Rent$712/mo Income$56,152/yrBoone County WV 21,312 $712/mo $56,152/yr $2,616/mo
- Clay County WV$2,713/moPop7,946 Rent$856/mo Income$42,790/yrClay County WV 7,946 $856/mo $42,790/yr $2,713/mo
Compare counties in the Charleston Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Charleston Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Charleston Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Charleston metro area is approximately $2,773 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Charleston Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Charleston metro area is $841 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Charleston Metro Area?
Boone County, WV is the most affordable county in the Charleston metro area at approximately $2,616 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Charleston Metro Area?
Kanawha County, WV is the most expensive county in the Charleston metro area at approximately $2,794 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Charleston Metro Area?
The Charleston metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Kanawha County, Boone County, Clay County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.