Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Concord?

Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Concord?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $45,000 in Concord.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Concord?

Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Charleston vs Concord Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

West Virginia

$850/mo est.

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $850 in Charleston, WV versus $1,410 in Concord, NH. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $83,701 in Concord, NH — about 23% higher in Concord, NH. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Charleston, WV

Concord, NH

Rent

Studio

$630

$876

+39% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$668

$1,134

+70% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,475

+51% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,139

$1,769

+55% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$187,300

$323,700

+73% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$64,512

$83,701

+30% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,830

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

40.7 yr

+1.9 yr in Charleston, WV

Homeownership

62.8%

57.4%

+5.4 pp in Charleston, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.1%

40.1%

+4.0 pp in Charleston, WV

Avg Commute

17.9 min

23.2 min

+5.3 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

542.7

180.7

+67% in Charleston, WV

Property Crime

3,148

1,251.5

+60% in Charleston, WV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.7°F

46.4°F

+9.3°F in Charleston, WV

Annual Precipitation

44.0 in

40.6 in

+3.4 in in Charleston, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

27.0

+75% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$21.67

+12% in Charleston, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Concord, NH

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

None

+4.8 pp in WV

Charleston vs Concord — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Concord?: Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $850 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Concord?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $45,000 in Concord.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Concord?: Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).