The Town Files

Coles County, Illinois

46,777 people. The median home is worth $127,400 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $56,478.

Towns in Coles County

Towns in Coles County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Charleston17,286$137,400$49,30029.6
Mattoon16,870$97,700$51,59740.8

People and housing

Coles CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$127,400$156,600
Median rent$780$960
Median household income$56,478$72,500
Median age37.540.4
Bachelor's degree or higher26.9%21.8%
Below the poverty line18.7%9.9%

Jobs and pay

23,930 jobs in 2024, average pay $52,987 a year.

Largest industries in Coles CountyHealth care & social assistan…6,880 jobs · $59,113Retail2,483 jobs · $33,405Hotels & restaurants1,971 jobs · $20,230Manufacturing1,569 jobs · $73,225Administrative & support1,466 jobs · $41,414Construction795 jobs · $65,412
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Coles County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 472 storm events in Coles County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Coles County by type since 1996Hail111Heat7Flood13Drought11Tornado21High Wind25Heavy Snow14Flash Flood43Winter Storm15Excessive Heat6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Coles County has been included in 9 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 15, 2023Severe StormDR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding
December 13, 2021TornadoEM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
June 24, 2008Severe StormDR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).