The Town FilesCharleston, Arkansas
City in Franklin County · population 2,588 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,300
- Household income
- $56,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 37.6
Charleston is a city of 2,588 people in Franklin County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $156,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 81% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 80% of Arkansas towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $156,300, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $56,600, which is more affordable than 45% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,300 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $764 | $792 |
| Median household income | $56,600 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 35.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 24, 2011 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 26, 2000.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 4,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,454 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Charleston
2 public schools with 880 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-7 | 462 | 14.0 |
| CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 418 | 7.7 |
Towns near Charleston
- Greenwood, AR12.2 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Booneville, AR13.0 mi · 3,809 people · home $112,200
- Barling, AR13.0 mi · 4,782 people · home $140,000
- Alma, AR16.5 mi · 5,825 people · home $233,600
- Paris, AR17.7 mi · 3,176 people · home $123,200
- Ozark, AR18.2 mi · 3,542 people · home $124,000
- Fort Smith, AR18.6 mi · 89,142 people · home $178,100
- Van Buren, AR20.3 mi · 23,218 people · home $181,500
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 80% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 45%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $156,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,600, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 24, 2011. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)