Charleston, TN Demographics

A map of Charleston's Population by Race

Charleston, Tennessee has an estimated population of 956, a dramatic increase from the 664 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 80.9% White, 7.3% Black, 6.2% Multiracial, 2.9% Hispanic, 2.4% Native American/Other, and 0.3% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Charleston, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Charleston has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Tennessee overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Charleston, that probability was 44.8% in 2020 and 33.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Charleston is ranked the 313th most populous place in Tennessee, out of 504 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Charleston was ranked the 339th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Charleston's White Population

773 residents of Charleston, or 80.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Charleston is higher than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Charleston ranks 442nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's White population has grown by an estimated 61.0%. White residents' share of Charleston's population has increased from 72.3% to 80.9%.

Charleston is more White than neighboring Cleveland (73.5% White). Charleston is less White than neighboring Calhoun (92.9% White), Riceville (86.3% White), Benton (92.6% White), and Hopewell (81.7% White).

Charleston's Black Population

70 residents of Charleston, or 7.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Charleston is lower than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Charleston ranks 64th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's Black population has declined by an estimated 30.7%. Black residents' share of Charleston's population has decreased from 15.2% to 7.3%.

Charleston is more Black than neighboring Calhoun (1.3% Black), Riceville (6% Black), Cleveland (7% Black), Benton (1.7% Black), and Hopewell (1.6% Black).

Charleston's Asian Population

3 residents of Charleston, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Charleston is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Charleston ranks 206th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's Asian population has declined by an estimated 25.0%. Asian residents' share of Charleston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Charleston is more Asian than neighboring Calhoun (0% Asian), Riceville (0% Asian), Benton (0% Asian), and Hopewell (0% Asian). Charleston is less Asian than neighboring Cleveland (2.3% Asian).

Charleston's Hispanic Population

28 residents of Charleston, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Charleston is slightly lower than in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Charleston ranks 134th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 3.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Charleston's population has decreased from 4.4% to 2.9%.

Charleston is more Hispanic than neighboring Calhoun (0% Hispanic), and Benton (0.4% Hispanic). Charleston is less Hispanic than neighboring Riceville (6.6% Hispanic), Cleveland (11.4% Hispanic), and Hopewell (12.1% Hispanic).

Charleston's Native American/Other Population

23 residents of Charleston, or 2.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Charleston is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Charleston ranks 130th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 360.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Charleston's population has increased from 0.8% to 2.4%.

Charleston is more Native American/Other than neighboring Calhoun (0% Native American/Other), Riceville (1.2% Native American/Other), Cleveland (1.1% Native American/Other), Benton (0% Native American/Other), and Hopewell (1.4% Native American/Other).

Charleston's Multiracial Population

59 residents of Charleston, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Charleston is slightly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Charleston ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charleston's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 31.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Charleston's population has decreased from 6.8% to 6.2%.

Charleston is more Multiracial than neighboring Calhoun (5.9% Multiracial), Riceville (0% Multiracial), Cleveland (4.8% Multiracial), Benton (5.3% Multiracial), and Hopewell (3.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.