Military prisons at Charleston, South Carolina, 1865
Charleston’s story
188 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1865.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1838Charleston is settled
CharlestonMS
Population
1,688
2025 Census estimate · −10.5% since 2020
Typical home
$120K
+5% in a year
Household income
$37K
median
Median age
38.3
years
Jobs based here
1,138
A job hub
Is Charleston a good place to live?
Charleston’s weakest subject grade is a D− for incomes. Charleston’s violent crime rate is 15.2 per 1,000 residents, where Mississippi’s towns sit at 2.4 and U.S. towns at 1.9. Only 15 of Mississippi’s 182 towns score lower on incomes. Residents are less healthy than 96% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Charleston's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 98% of U.S. towns. Lamb-Fish Bridge and Dr. Tandy and Sarah Harrison House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Charleston has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Charleston stand out
Where Charleston beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A shrinking town
Charleston has shrunk 23% since 2010
2,193 counted in 2010 and 1,884 in 2020; an estimated 1,688 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Charleston grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Charleston is from typical.
Jobs & income$37K median household incomeD−Open →HealthTallahatchie General Hospital-Cah 0.3 miles awayD−Open →SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.8 of 20; 5.9% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →History1 place on the National Register; 9 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life1.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Charleston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Charleston, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Mississippi13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCharleston UtilitiesNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Charleston’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personMississippi has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTallahatchie County RegistrarTallahatchie County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code3892138921 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Charleston.
HealthD−
A larger share of adults in Charleston have high blood pressure than in the typical Mississippi or U.S. town
56% of adults have high blood pressure in Charleston, above both Mississippi’s towns (45%) and U.S. towns (35%). 22% of adults have diabetes in Charleston. Charleston beats the Mississippi average on 3 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
4%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Charleston | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 36% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 9.6% | 13% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 56% | 45% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Mississippi
3 better13 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Charleston | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 9.6% | 13.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.3% | 79.7% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 18.5% | 11.2% |
Tallahatchie General Hospital-Cah
0.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsD
Public schools in Charleston fall behind 86% of Mississippi districts
Its public schools are run by the East Tallahatchie School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
14%of MS districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 316 | D− |
| Charleston High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 273 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
A job hub: Charleston has 2.0 jobs for every working resident and draws in 1,001 commuters
About one in 4 of Charleston’s working residents works in town. 27% of Charleston residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Charleston has added 82 jobs, to 1,138 in 2023.
24%work in town
| Charleston | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 27% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 24% | 19% | 8% |
| Median household income | $37,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Charleston24%
Grenada9%
Batesville7%
Greenwood3%
Jackson3%
23 mi
median commute distance
1,138
jobs based in Charleston
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 51% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B−
The typical home in Charleston is valued at about $120K
The typical Charleston home is worth about $120,000, up 5% in a year, 38% below the Mississippi typical home. The median rent in Charleston is $683 a month. Only 6 of the 99 Mississippi towns we compare have a lower share of renters spending 30% or more of income on rent than Charleston.
$120KZillow home value
| Charleston | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 27% | 52% | 48% |
| Median rent | $683 a month | $905 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 60% | 62% | 73% |
Typical home value
Charleston$120K
Mississippi$195K
+5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Charleston, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities. Since 1980, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Charleston.
71risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
5
paid flood claims since 1980
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Charleston has mild winters and hot summers
Charleston has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Charleston’s July high is 91°F.
91°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–55°
Spring52–74°
Summer70–90°
Fall52–76°
Nov 7
typical first frost
Mar 17
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Mississippi overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (37% statewide). Charleston has lost 10% of its people since 2020, down to 1,688 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 22% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 25% across Mississippi.
38.3median age · MS 38.6
| Charleston | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 17% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 22% | 25% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.3 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
CharlestonMississippiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma24%
High school30%
Some college18%
Associate’s6%
Bachelor’s8%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Charleston | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.8% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.3% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.6% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.4% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.3% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.5% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.8% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 24.3% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.8% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.6% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 8% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.3% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
Safety
Crime reported in Charleston
Charleston's reported crime rate is well above Mississippi's. 26 violent crimes were reported in 2022.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Charleston15.2
Mississippi2.5
U.S.4
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Charleston19.3
Mississippi18.1
U.S.20
26
violent crimes reported in 2022
33
property crimes reported in 2022
FBI crime data, 2022 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Charleston
19pages on Charleston
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 86% of MS districts · 3 schoolsSafety15.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2022)HealthD−Better than MS on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$120K typical home · up 5% in a yearWork & commuteD−$37K median household income · 1,138 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 71% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Charleston; the nearest are
Coahoma Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Clarksdale33.9 mi$3,490 in-state tuitionMississippi Valley State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Itta Bena37.9 mi$7,692 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Charleston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Mississippi.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,001 people come to Charleston for work
Where Charleston’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,138jobs based in Charleston
24%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Charleston
9 notable people were born in Charleston.
About Charleston
City in Mississippi, United States
Charleston is a city in north central Mississippi and one of the two county seats of Tallahatchie County, which is located on both sides of the Tallahatchie River. This city is located east of the river and, as of the 2020 census, had a population of 1,884.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 217 ft
- ZIP code
- 38921
- Area code
- 662
Questions about Charleston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
What is Charleston, MS known for?
9 notable people were born here, including Brad Dye and Al Jones.