Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Charleston, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

17,062

Median Agei

29.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

82.7%14,109

Black

6.8%1,166

Hispanic/Latino

4.5%760

Two or More

3.3%558

Asian

2%335

Other

0.8%130

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%3

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.8%549

High School Diploma

22.5%2,140

Some College (<1 yr)

6.3%596

Some College (1+ yr)

15.2%1,448

Associate's Degree

10.5%996

Bachelor's Degree

15.7%1,494

Master's Degree

12.6%1,197

Professional Degree

1.2%117

Doctorate

3.9%367

HS or Higher

93.5%

BA or Higher

33.3%

Graduate+

17.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$137,400

Median Renti

$817

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

48%3,574

Renter-Occupied

52%3,873

Total Units

8,181

Homeownership

48%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

7.6%273

$50K–$100K

26.9%962

$100K–$150K

23.4%838

$150K–$200K

20.3%727

$200K–$300K

14.2%506

$300K–$500K

5.8%208

$500K–$1M

1.2%42

$1M+

0.5%18

Rent Distribution

Under $500

396

$500–$750

1,133

$750–$1,000

1,319

$1,000–$1,250

664

$1,250–$1,500

109

$1,500–$2,000

187

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%27

2010–2019

4.8%392

2000–2009

8.2%671

1990–1999

15.3%1,252

1980–1989

15.2%1,246

1970–1979

18.7%1,527

1960–1969

8.6%705

1950–1959

9%735

1940–1949

3.1%254

1939 or earlier

16.8%1,372

Heating Fuel

Electricity

51.1%3,804

Utility Gas

46.2%3,442

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%85

No Fuel

0.9%68

Wood

0.3%23

Coal

0.2%17

Other

0.1%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$49,300

Mean Household Incomei

$67,079

Per Capita Incomei

$31,560

Poverty Ratei

21.5%

Unemploymenti

6.1%

Labor Forcei

9,634

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

10.9%813

$10K–$15K

5%369

$15K–$20K

4.1%306

$20K–$25K

6.9%516

$25K–$30K

5.6%416

$30K–$35K

6.6%490

$35K–$40K

5.9%440

$40K–$45K

2.5%187

$45K–$50K

3%226

$50K–$60K

9.3%693

$60K–$75K

10.2%757

$75K–$100K

9.6%716

$100K–$125K

6.3%469

$125K–$150K

3.6%271

$150K–$200K

5.5%413

$200K+

4.9%365

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

331

Residentsi

478

Avg. Tenant Renti

$357/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

11 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers139 homes68% occupied$420/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8192 homes93% occupied$311/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $49,300/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $15K/yr

76.5%

Very low income$15K–$25K/yr

21.7%

Low income$25K–$39K/yr

1.8%

Who Receives This Housing

75.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

29.7% of subsidized households are minority

28.4% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

41.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

6814%

By Region

Top Countries

India

137

China

Korea

Germany

United Kingdom

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

8,605

Avg. Commutei

15.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

8,978

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

658(4.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.7%Insured

5.3%Uninsured

Charleston, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026