The Town FilesCharleston, Michigan
Township in Kalamazoo County · population 1,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,600
- Household income
- $82,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 43.7
Charleston is a township of 1,904 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The median home is worth $244,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Michigan towns, hipper than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $244,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $82,308, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,308 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 118 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 2019.
Severe weather in Kalamazoo County since 1996
Kalamazoo County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County had 120,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,730 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Towns near Charleston
- Augusta, MI3.0 mi · 864 people · home $140,600
- Galesburg, MI3.6 mi · 2,049 people · home $120,800
- Climax, MI3.9 mi · 712 people · home $208,500
- Battle Creek, MI6.0 mi · 52,721 people · home $141,900
- Ross, MI6.0 mi · 4,851 people · home $370,900
- Springfield, MI6.0 mi · 5,292 people · home $110,800
- Climax, MI6.3 mi · 2,364 people · home $206,500
- Comstock, MI6.3 mi · 15,231 people · home $241,500
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 18% of Michigan towns and quieter than 32%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $244,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,308, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 64.6 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1977. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)