The Town FilesCharleston, Illinois
City in Coles County · population 17,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,400
- Household income
- $49,300
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 29.6
Charleston is a city of 17,286 people in Coles County, Illinois. The median home is worth $137,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Illinois towns, hipper than 94% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Illinois towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $137,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $49,300, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $817 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $817 | $960 |
| Median household income | $49,300 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 10, 1974 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Coles County since 1996
Coles County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Coles County
Coles County had 23,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,987 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Charleston
7 public schools with 2,580 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston High School | 9-12 | 780 | 16.6 |
| Jefferson Elem School | 4-6 | 663 | 17.0 |
| Carl Sandburg Elem School | K-3 | 537 | 14.5 |
| Charleston Middle School | 7-8 | 395 | 14.1 |
| Mark Twain Elem School | PK-K | 205 | 12.1 |
| Lerna TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
| Shelbyville TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Charleston
- Mattoon, IL9.9 mi · 16,870 people · home $97,700
- Arcola, IL15.2 mi · 2,927 people · home $124,100
- Tuscola, IL22.1 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
- Sullivan, IL24.2 mi · 4,413 people · home $102,500
- Marshall, IL26.6 mi · 3,947 people · home $118,500
- Paris, IL27.5 mi · 8,291 people · home $75,700
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 23%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $137,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,300, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $817 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.0 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 10, 1974. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)