Charleston and Tahlequah receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Charleston
Tahlequah
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs57 · Top 48%
Growth
49 · Bottom 47%
vs54 · Top 43%
Climate
67 · Bottom 38%
vs66 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
41 · Bottom 32%
vs37 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 18%
vs87 · Top 39%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 17%
vs44 · Bottom 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Charleston | Tahlequah | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,062 | 16,935 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,300 | $49,581 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,560 | $28,232 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,880/sq mi | 1,327/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $137,400 | $185,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $817 | $835 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 48.0% | 40.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.2% | -0.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 34.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 26.3% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6 | 30 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 100.0% | -6.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.0" | 51.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 46 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 18.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 29.6 | 29.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Charleston
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, inland flooding.
Tahlequah
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Charleston
58
Your Score
58
Area Score
Tahlequah
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Charleston, IL · Tahlequah, OK · How this is calculated: methodology