Charleston is a city located in Coles County Illinois. Charleston has a 2024 population of 16,956. It is also the county seat of Coles County. Charleston is currently declining at a rate of -0.42% annually and its population has decreased by -1.67% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 17,244 in 2020.
The average household income in Charleston is $65,198 with a poverty rate of 26.53%. The median age in Charleston is 29.4 years: 29.9 years for males, and 29.2 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Charleston was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 15,394 | 86.51% |
| Black or African American | 1,299 | 7.3% |
| Two or more races | 574 | 3.23% |
| Asian | 281 | 1.58% |
| Other race | 242 | 1.36% |
| Native American | 5 | 0.03% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 7,484 | 1.97 | 47.4 | 52.6 |
| Non Family | 3,825 | 1.3 | 27.2 | 72.8 |
| Married | 2,687 | 2.69 | 75.4 | 24.6 |
| Female | 677 | 2.67 | 35.7 | 64.3 |
| Male | 295 | 2.52 | 80 | 20 |
2.53
Average Family Size
1.97
Average Household Size
47.4%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 474 | 4.74% |
| Associates Degree | 855 | 8.56% |
| Bachelors Degree | 1,749 | 17.5% |
| Graduate Degree | 1,558 | 15.59% |
| High School Graduate | 2,808 | 28.1% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 263 | 2.63% |
| Some College | 2,285 | 22.87% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 9,097 | 8,489 | 3,107 |
| Black | 268 | 215 | 49 |
| 2+ Races | 218 | 204 | 39 |
| Hispanic | 188 | 146 | 16 |
| Other Race | 138 | 138 | 51 |
| Asian | 104 | 86 | 57 |
| Native American | 5 | 0 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among other race people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 54.81%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $47,716 | $69,891 | $29,764 |
| Graduate Degree | $57,474 | $77,750 | $56,847 |
| High School Graduate | $24,583 | $21,671 | $26,197 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $28,125 | $28,940 | $0 |
| Overall | $34,490 | $35,309 | $33,935 |
| Some College | $30,017 | $25,247 | $33,141 |
$34,490
Average Earnings
$35,309
Average Male
$33,935
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
95.14% of Charleston residents speak only English, while 4.86% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.53% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 13,251 | 3,284 | 24.78% |
| Black | 476 | 268 | 56.3% |
| Multiple | 524 | 223 | 42.56% |
| Hispanic | 467 | 137 | 29.34% |
| Other | 184 | 61 | 33.15% |
| Asian | 202 | 21 | 10.4% |
| Native | 5 | 5 | 100% |
26.53%
Overall Poverty Rate
26.91%
Male Poverty Rate
26.15%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Charleston is Native, with 100% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Charleston is Asian, with 10.4% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 6.07%. Among those working part-time, it was 43.65%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 29.86%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 35.04% |
| High School | 28.17% |
| Some College | 20.41% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 5.99% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 74.27% |
| Male Unemployed | 42.97% |
| Male Employed | 24.32% |
| Female Employed | 18.02% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $60,308 | $80,683 |
| Households | $47,533 | $65,198 |
| Married Families | $76,493 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $31,351 | $47,475 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
34.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
35.6%
Male Marriage Rate
33.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
829
Number of Veterans
786
Male Veterans
43
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 215 |
| Vietnam | 189 |
| First Gulf War | 118 |
| Korea | 35 |
| World War II | 21 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 75+ | 265 |
| 65 to 74 | 153 |
| 35 to 54 | 150 |
| 55 to 64 | 146 |
| 18 to 34 | 115 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 730 | 5.37% |
| 2+ Races | 63 | 21.88% |
| Black | 28 | 2.34% |
| Asian | 8 | 3.49% |
| Hispanic | 8 | 1.44% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.24%
Veteran Poverty Rate
27.52%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
66.4%
Labor Force Participation
61.7%
Employment Rate
6.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
76.3%
Born in Charleston
96.45%
Native Born
3.55%
Foreign Born
1.31%
Non Citizen
2.23%
Naturalized
96.45% of Charleston residents were born in the United States, with 76.3% having been born in Illinois. 1.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 16,596 | -72 | -0.43% |
| 2028 | 16,668 | -72 | -0.43% |
| 2027 | 16,740 | -72 | -0.43% |
| 2026 | 16,812 | -72 | -0.43% |
| 2025 | 16,884 | -72 | -0.42% |
| 2024 | 16,956 | -72 | -0.42% |
| 2023 | 17,028 | -96 | -0.56% |
| 2022 | 17,124 | -127 | -0.74% |
| 2021 | 17,251 | 7 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 17,244 | -2,932 | -14.53% |
| 2019 | 20,176 | -62 | -0.31% |
| 2018 | 20,238 | -166 | -0.81% |
| 2017 | 20,404 | -151 | -0.73% |
| 2016 | 20,555 | -256 | -1.23% |
| 2015 | 20,811 | -264 | -1.25% |
| 2014 | 21,075 | -307 | -1.44% |
| 2013 | 21,382 | -260 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 21,642 | -202 | -0.92% |
| 2011 | 21,844 | -12 | -0.05% |
| 2010 | 21,856 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 21,039 | 641 | 3.14% |
| 1990 | 20,398 | 1,043 | 5.39% |
| 1980 | 19,355 | 2,934 | 17.87% |
| 1970 | 16,421 | 6,952 | 73.42% |
| 1960 | 9,469 | 305 | 3.33% |
| 1950 | 9,164 | 967 | 11.8% |
| 1940 | 8,197 | 185 | 2.31% |
| 1930 | 8,012 | 1,397 | 21.12% |
| 1920 | 6,615 | 731 | 12.42% |
| 1910 | 5,884 | 396 | 7.22% |
| 1900 | 5,488 | 1,353 | 32.72% |
| 1890 | 4,135 | 1,268 | 44.23% |
| 1880 | 2,867 | 18 | 0.63% |
| 1870 | 2,849 | -13,747 | -82.83% |