Charleston, IL
Census place 1712567 · pop 17,062
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-16.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
26.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
2.05% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
84.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$49,300 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
48.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
372 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1816 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
33.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
69/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$137,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
15 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$766/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Charleston: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Charleston, IL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Charleston scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Charleston, IL?
- Charleston reports 372 violent crimes per 100k and 1816 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Charleston, IL expensive to live in?
- Charleston has a median home value of $137,400 and typical rent around $766/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Charleston, IL?
- Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-16.6%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Charleston, IL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($766/mo) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.