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CITY

Charleston

Illinois · 17,466 residents (2025 est.) · 8.89 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#23Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-20.8%#282Shortest commutesof 6,82615.2
The short version

Charleston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,300. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 3,977 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $137,400. At a median age of 29.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 26.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,062
−19%since 2000
from 21,039 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,919 / sq mi
−19%since 2000
from 2,367 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
29.6
+30%since 2000
from 22.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,466 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K20K21K23K1990201020202024Charleston
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,300
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,140 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,560
+117%since 2000
from $14,522 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.0%
+15.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 30.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.485
−15%since 2010
from 0.569 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance2%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,400
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$817
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $441 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
48.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 45.7% in 2000
52.0% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.7%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
−11%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charleston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(19,252)
Black4.2%(889)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(370)
Asian1.3%(277)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.5%(3,682)
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.7%(14,109)
Black6.8%(1,166)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(760)
Asian2%(335)
Other4.1%(692)
Diversity Score38.4%(6,558)
Diversity Score
38
+120%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 33.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.5%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.2 min
+38%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 69.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
10.0%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.0%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
52.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.4%
−43.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.0%
+8.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−81.7 ptssince 2013
from 87.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.3%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 73.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Charleston to nearby cities

CHARLESTON VS
Mattoon
Income$51,597+5%
Home value$97,700−29%
Population16,667−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Paris
Income$53,927+9%
Home value$75,700−45%
Population8,026−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Effingham
Income$72,377+47%
Home value$177,500+29%
Population12,406−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Savoy
Income$91,966+87%
Home value$320,300+133%
Population9,113−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Charleston, Illinois?

Charleston, Illinois has about 17,062 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Charleston, Illinois?

The typical household in Charleston, Illinois earns about $49,300 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charleston, Illinois expensive?

In Charleston, Illinois, the median home is worth about $137,400, and the typical rent is about $817 a month.

How educated are people in Charleston, Illinois?

About 33.3% of adults age 25 and over in Charleston, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charleston, Illinois?

About 26.3% of people in Charleston, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charleston, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Charleston, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,336 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →