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Coles County, IL
8 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Coles County, Illinois.
Population
46,777
Land area
508sq mi
People per sq mi
92
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Coles County
Coles County at a glance
- Coles County is 60% less dense than Illinois as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $56,478 a year, 32% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $127,400 (52% below Illinois) and median rent is $780 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Charleston (17,062), Mattoon (16,586) and Oakland (862).
Local data for Coles County, IL
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools24
- Colleges2
- Libraries2
- Banks19
- Post Offices8
- Parks21
- Grocery Stores13
- Restaurants146
- Affordable Housing8
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment9
- Private Schools2
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places17
Housing and community stats
Coles County, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,478
Poverty rate
18.7%
Median home value
$127,400
Prices +1.6% in a year
Median rent
$780/mo
Homeownership
60.4%
Bachelor's or higher
26.9%
Median age
37.5
Average commute
18.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (10,328), Irish Americans (6,647), Mexican Americans (1,362).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
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
$85.7M
1,784 loans, 10,742 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$165K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Coles County, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.2%
- Carpooled9.2%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked4.8%
- Bicycle1.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home7.2%
Average one-way commute: 18.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Coles County, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
472
Most often 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 zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Coles County, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.7%
U.S. 33.3% +4.4 pts
Diabetes
11.4%
U.S. 12.1% -0.7 pts
Smoking
14.8%
U.S. 12.8% +2.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.2%
U.S. 11.1% -2.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Coles County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Coles County, IL?
- Charleston is the largest city or town in Coles County, with about 17,062 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Coles County?
- Coles County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 61912, 61920, 61931, 61938, 61943.
- What is the population of Coles County, IL?
- About 46,777 people live in Coles County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Coles County?
- Coles County borders Shelby County, Douglas County, Edgar County, Clark County, Moultrie County, Cumberland County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023