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Charleston, IL
City in Coles County, Illinois. ZIP codes: 61920.
Population
17,062
Land area
9.1sq mi
People per sq mi
1,880
ZIP codes
1
Charleston and its ZIP codes
Charleston at a glance
- Charleston is about 8.2 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- It is the 149th most populous of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.
- Households here earn a median of $49,300 a year, 41% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $137,400 (48% below Illinois) and median rent is $817 a month.
Local data for Charleston, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Charleston, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,300
Poverty rate
26.3%
Median home value
$137,400
Median rent
$817/mo
Homeownership
48.0%
Bachelor's or higher
33.3%
Median age
29.6
Average commute
15.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,875), Irish Americans (1,784), Mexican Americans (444).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Coles County. PPP loans are for Charleston.
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,336
23,624 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,854
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$291M
FY 2026, $6,212 per person
PPP loans
$27.5M
750 loans, 4,016 jobs reported
How people get to work
Charleston, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.4%
- Carpooled8.1%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked10.0%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
- Worked from home8.9%
Average one-way commute: 15.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Charleston, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
472
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
57
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 21°F
43.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Charleston, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.5%
U.S. 33.3% +4.2 pts
Diabetes
9.8%
U.S. 12.1% -2.3 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.2%
U.S. 11.1% -1.9 pts
ZIP codes in Charleston
1 in or overlapping Charleston. Population shown
Cities near Charleston
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| LernaVillage | 7.7 mi | 0.1 |
| JanesvilleCensus-designated place | 8.6 mi | 0.1 |
| AshmoreVillage | 9 mi | 0.8 |
| WestfieldVillage | 10 mi | 1 |
| MattoonCity | 10 mi | 10.3 |
| HumboldtVillage | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| TrillaCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.2 |
| KansasVillage | 14 mi | 1 |
| HindsboroVillage | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| OaklandCity | 14 mi | 0.8 |
| ArcolaCity | 15 mi | 2 |
| ToledoVillage | 15 mi | 0.9 |
| CaseyCity | 16 mi | 2.6 |
| GreenupVillage | 17 mi | 1.7 |
| GaysVillage | 17 mi | 0.4 |
| MartinsvilleCity | 19 mi | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Charleston, IL in?
- Charleston is in Coles County, Illinois.
- What ZIP codes are in Charleston, IL?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Charleston include 61920.
- What is the population of Charleston, IL?
- About 17,062 people live in Charleston, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Charleston?
- Nearby places include Lerna (7.7 mi), Janesville (8.6 mi), Ashmore (9 mi), Westfield (10 mi), Mattoon (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023