Charleston city, Illinois
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 21,838
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 17,466
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 17,361
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 17,608
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 17,619
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -0.8%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -1.5%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 17,286
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 21,838
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.2%
Persons under 18 years, percent 11.8%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 15.3%
Female persons, percent 52.5%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 85.4%
Black alone, percent(a) 6.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 2.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.0%
Two or More Races, percent 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 4.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 82.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 658
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 4.0%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) X
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 48.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $137,400
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,242
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $558
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $817
Building Permits, 2025 X
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 7,447
Persons per household, 2020-2024 1.85
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 78.1%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 4.9%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 96.6%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 84.3%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 93.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 33.3%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 13.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 6.2%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 62.8%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 59.3%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 46,723
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) D
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 18,491
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 353,504
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $20,644
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 15.2
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $49,300
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $31,560
Persons in poverty, percent 26.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 X
Total employment, 2023 X
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) X
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 X
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 X
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 1,945.7
Population per square mile, 2010 2,449.1
Land area in square miles, 2020 8.88
Land area in square miles, 2010 8.92
FIPS Code 1712567