The Town FilesCharleston, Mississippi
City in Tallahatchie County · population 1,884 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,800
- Household income
- $36,892
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.3
Charleston is a city of 1,884 people in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $88,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Mississippi towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $88,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $36,892, which is more affordable than 75% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $683 | $820 |
| Median household income | $36,892 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 65.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 21, 1971 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on February 20, 1976.
Severe weather in Tallahatchie County since 1996
Tallahatchie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Tallahatchie County
Tallahatchie County had 2,724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,126 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 12.7%.
Public schools in Charleston
4 public schools with 800 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 322 | 13.4 |
| CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 272 | 11.8 |
| CHARLESTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 206 | 15.8 |
| E TALLAHATCHIE VOC CENTER | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Charleston
- Crowder, MS12.4 mi · 573 people · home $49,600
- Holcomb, MS17.5 mi · 568 people · home —
- Lambert, MS18.7 mi · 1,273 people · home $62,300
- Grenada, MS21.0 mi · 12,700 people · home $145,600
- Marks, MS21.0 mi · 1,444 people · home $96,700
- Coffeeville, MS21.3 mi · 797 people · home $87,300
- Tutwiler, MS21.7 mi · 2,476 people · home $58,900
- Batesville, MS22.9 mi · 7,523 people · home $222,400
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 11% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 1%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $88,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,892, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 21, 1971. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)