United States › Illinois › Charleston CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Charleston Illinois · 21,039 residents · 8.89 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Charleston is a city of 21,039 people in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 22.7. 46% of homes are owner-occupied. The poverty rate is 30.1%, above the 12.4% national rate. Households here earn about 48% less than in Illinois as a whole. About 33% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 22.7
US median: 35.2
More educated
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 22.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 20K 21K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Charleston Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $24,140
−17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,015 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $9,314 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 24.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$75,600
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $50,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$441
−9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $367 in 1990
US average: $602
from 52.1% in 1990
54.3% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 95.5%(19,482)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(176)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.5%(19,252)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(370)
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 from 33.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 79.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 17.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 57.6%(4,916)
Women 15+
Never married 53.2%(5,356)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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
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CHARLESTON VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Charleston, Illinois? Charleston, Illinois has about 21,039 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Charleston, Illinois? The typical household in Charleston, Illinois earns about $24,140 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 $75,600, and the typical rent is about $441 a month.
How educated are people in Charleston, Illinois? About 33.1% 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 30.1% of people in Charleston, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Charleston, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Charleston, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 641 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.
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