The Town FilesCharleston, New York
Town in Montgomery County · population 1,355 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,200
- Household income
- $91,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.3
Charleston is a town of 1,355 people in Montgomery County, New York. The median home is worth $184,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of New York towns, quieter than 89% of New York towns, easier by car than 88% of New York towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $184,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $91,417, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,250 a month. 91.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,250 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $91,417 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 19,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,762 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Towns near Charleston
- Glen, NY5.3 mi · 2,536 people · home $198,800
- Esperance, NY5.4 mi · 1,806 people · home $196,200
- Root, NY6.7 mi · 2,013 people · home $209,000
- Carlisle, NY7.3 mi · 1,768 people · home $199,600
- Central Bridge, NY7.8 mi · 740 people · home $196,400
- Fultonville, NY8.4 mi · 742 people · home $148,600
- Fonda, NY8.9 mi · 668 people · home $114,100
- Tribes Hill, NY9.1 mi · 937 people · home $175,600
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 11% of New York towns and quieter than 89%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $184,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,417, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,250 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 53.5 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)