Charleston

Population: 17,212
Median household income: $49,057
Median home value: $133,700

Charleston is a community in Coles County, Illinois, home to 17,212 residents. At $49,057, its median household income sits below Coles County's $56,040.

From 2019 to 2023, Charleston's population declined 15.9% from 20,464 to 17,212, while its median home value rose 27.5% from $104,900 to $133,700.

52.5% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1978.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 17,212
Median age: 28.8 yrs
Median household income: $49,057
Median home value: $133,700
Median gross rent: $819
Housing units: 8,411
Homeownership rate: 46.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.2%
Unemployment rate: 5.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

20,46417,212

Median household income

$40,863$49,057

Median home value

$104,900$133,700

Median gross rent

$723$819

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	20,464	$40,863	$104,900	$723
2020	20,141	$41,436	$110,500	$716
2021	18,130	$44,371	$111,100	$753
2022	17,795	$47,533	$122,700	$823
2023	17,212	$49,057	$133,700	$819

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.2%

5 to 177.9%

18 to 2432.6%

25 to 3413.5%

35 to 448.4%

45 to 548.6%

55 to 6410.6%

65 to 746.8%

75 and over7.3%

	Count	Share
Under 5	721	4.2%
5 to 17	1,366	7.9%
18 to 24	5,608	32.6%
25 to 34	2,331	13.5%
35 to 44	1,439	8.4%
45 to 54	1,486	8.6%
55 to 64	1,827	10.6%
65 to 74	1,174	6.8%
75 and over	1,260	7.3%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	14,222	82.6%
Black or African American	1,324	7.7%
American Indian & Alaska Native	4	0.0%
Asian	346	2.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	2	0.0%
Some other race	92	0.5%
Two or more races	393	2.3%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	829	4.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma7.6%

High school graduate26.8%

Some college or associate's31.4%

Bachelor's degree18.2%

Graduate or professional degree16.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	725	7.6%
High school graduate	2,549	26.8%
Some college or associate's	2,992	31.4%
Bachelor's degree	1,728	18.2%
Graduate or professional degree	1,523	16.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 15 min

Drove alone69.7%

Carpooled7.9%

Public transit0.0%

Walked11.2%

Bicycle1.3%

Worked from home9.1%

Other means0.8%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	6,223	69.7%
Carpooled	707	7.9%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	1,001	11.2%
Bicycle	114	1.3%
Worked from home	814	9.1%
Other means	75	0.8%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	4,851	59.7%
15 to 29 min	2,082	25.6%
30 to 44 min	630	7.8%
45 to 59 min	291	3.6%
60+ min	266	3.3%

Households

Average household size: 1.93
Poverty rate: 25.3% (3,654 of 14,460)

	Count	Share
Family households	3,691	50.2%
Nonfamily households	3,661	49.8%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1978

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	7,352	87.4%
Vacant	1,059	12.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	3,430	46.7%
Renter-occupied	3,922	53.3%

1-unit, detached52.5%

1-unit, attached3.3%

2 to 4 units12.0%

5 to 19 units17.7%

20 or more units11.4%

Mobile home & other3.2%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	4,419	52.5%
1-unit, attached	277	3.3%
2 to 4 units	1,007	12.0%
5 to 19 units	1,486	17.7%
20 or more units	956	11.4%
Mobile home & other	266	3.2%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1712567
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 9.08 sq mi
Water area: 0.71 sq mi
Center point: 39.4848, -88.1776