The Town FilesCharleston, Pennsylvania
Township in Tioga County · population 3,565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,200
- Household income
- $72,595
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 57.9
Charleston is a township of 3,565 people in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $263,200, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $263,200, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $72,595, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $852 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $852 | $996 |
| Median household income | $72,595 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 30, 1970 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 26, 2009.
Severe weather in Tioga County since 1996
Tioga County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Tioga County
Tioga County had 12,397 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,900 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Charleston
- Wellsboro, PA4.2 mi · 3,469 people · home $225,200
- Delmar, PA7.0 mi · 2,793 people · home $247,800
- Mansfield, PA8.6 mi · 2,839 people · home $191,600
- Erwin, NY27.5 mi · 8,095 people · home $223,700
- Southport, NY27.6 mi · 9,691 people · home $123,200
- Gang Mills, NY29.1 mi · 4,261 people · home $308,400
- Corning, NY29.1 mi · 10,551 people · home $158,400
- Corning, NY29.9 mi · 5,983 people · home $167,600
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 90%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.9).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $263,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,595, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $852 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 54.0 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 30, 1970. The typical Pennsylvania 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)