Charleston, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Coles County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
17,212 Population 1,896/sq mi density
$49,057 Median Income $30,375 per capita
$133,700 Home Value $169,446 Zillow
$819 Median Rent 31.0% income on rent
53°F Avg Temperature
372 Violent Crime/100K 1,816 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.9 / 5.0
$49,057 median income, 5.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$133,700 home value, $819/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
372 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.7 / 5.0
34.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Charleston, IL

At a Glance

Median Income
$49,057
35% below
$30,375 per capita
Home Value
$133,700
53% below
Zillow: $169,446
Median Rent
$819/mo
30% below
31.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
372/100K
2% below
1,816/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
34.2%
1% above
92.4% high school+
Unemployment
5.9%
64% above
15.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.4%
26% above
16.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F

How Charleston Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Charleston's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
65%
Home Value
47%
Rent
70%
Poverty
127%
Bachelor's
101%
Unemployment
164%
Crime
98%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Charleston a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Charleston residents earn a median household income of $49,057 , which is 35% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,375. The unemployment rate stands at 5.9% (64% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,032 business establishments, including 124 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Charleston is $133,700 , 53% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $169,446. Median rent is $819/month, with 31.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1976.

Safety & Crime

Charleston reports 372 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 2% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,816/100K.

Education

34.2% of adults in Charleston hold a bachelor's degree or higher (1% above the national average). 92.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Charleston has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.0 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population17,212
Median Age28.8 yrs
Density1,896/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born4.1%
Veterans4.9%

Economy

C+
Median Income$49,057
Per Capita$30,375
Unemployment5.9%
Poverty15.7%
County GDP$3,509M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,019

Housing

A+
Home Value$133,700
Rent$819
Ownership46.7%
Zillow$169,446
Housing Units8,648
Rent Burden31.0%

Crime

F
Violent372/100K
Property1,816/100K

Health

Obesity40.4%
Diabetes10.9%
Smoking16.7%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death9,241/100K

Climate

Avg Temp53°F
Rain36.0 in/yr
Elevation697 ft

Education

B+
Bachelor's+34.2%
High School+92.4%
Graduate+15.6%
School Score5.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 63% / D 35%
Commute15 min
Broadband85.3%
Internet Speed93 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2

Did You Know?

Charleston was founded in 1831.
The median home in Charleston was built in 1976.
The nearest airport is Terre Haute Regional (47 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.475 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
16.8% of the population has a disability.
There are 124 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.