United States › Illinois › Charleston CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Charleston Illinois · 20,398 residents · 8.89 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Charleston is a city of 20,398 people in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 22.2. This is an unusually credentialed place: 33% of adults have a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 24.1%, above the 13.2% national rate. 52% of homes are owner-occupied. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 32%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 22.2
US median: 33.0
More educated
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 11%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 22.7 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 20K 21K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Charleston Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $22,015
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $24,140 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $14,522 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 30.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$50,900
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $75,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$367
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $441 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 45.7% in 2000
47.9% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.5%(19,252)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(370)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 95.5%(19,482)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(176)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data vs 33.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 83.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 17.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 47.7%(3,394)
Women 15+
Never married 50.6%(4,127)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 53.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 24.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 66.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 37.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 29.2%(192)
Share of the 658 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Charleston Head to head
Compare Charleston to nearby cities CHARLESTON VS
Mattoon
Income $51,597 +134%
Home value $97,700 +92%
Population 16,667 −5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Paris
Income $53,927 +145%
Home value $75,700 +49%
Population 8,026 −54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Effingham
Income $72,377 +229%
Home value $177,500 +249%
Population 12,406 −29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Savoy
Income $91,966 +318%
Home value $320,300 +529%
Population 9,113 −48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Charleston, Illinois? Charleston, Illinois has about 20,398 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Charleston, Illinois? The typical household in Charleston, Illinois earns about $22,015 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 $50,900, and the typical rent is about $367 a month.
How educated are people in Charleston, Illinois? About 33.4% 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 24.1% of people in Charleston, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Keep going
Explore from here 