County · Illinois

Coles County, Illinois

Coles County, Illinois. Coles County had 46,607 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020, in line with Illinois (−0.8%). It holds 20 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 13 census tracts. GEOID 17029.

Coles County is the county of the Charleston-Mattoon, IL micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

46,607

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 46,863 · ACS 2020-2024: 46,777

Median household income

$56,478

±$3,441 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$127,400

±$7,333 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$780

±$41 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Coles County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 46,863 residents in Coles County. The Census Bureau estimates 46,607 for July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, in line with Illinois (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 46,777 over 508 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +570 (47,657)
2021→2022 −935 (46,722)
2022→2023 −32 (46,690)
2023→2024 −117 (46,573)
2024→2025 +34 (46,607)

Coles County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Coles County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	46,777	12,694,798	−4,576
Households	20,824±326	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.06±0.03	2.46	−0.21
Housing units	22,681±65	5,457,452	−814

Coles County's population since 2000

From 53,196 in 2000 to 46,607 in 2025: down 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 53,196
2005 (estimate) 53,016
2010 Census 53,873
2015 (estimate) 52,217
2020 Census 46,863
2025 (estimate) 46,607

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Coles County?

Coles County holds 20 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Charleston Township with 19,485 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Coles County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Charleston Township	township	19,313	19,509±24	$51,741	$148,200	22.7%	100%
Charleston	city	17,286	17,062±622	$49,300	$137,400	26.3%	100%
Mattoon	city	16,870	16,586±410	$51,597	$97,700	21.3%	100%
Mattoon Township	township	14,668	14,496±36	$53,811	$96,400	20.1%	100%
Lafayette Township, Coles County	township	4,765	4,684±19	$69,125	$218,500	13.4%	100%
East Oakland Township	township	1,229	1,175±177	$52,188	$104,200	14.6%	100%
Pleasant Grove Township	township	1,227	921±219	$76,613	$145,500	7.2%	100%
Humboldt Township	township	1,161	1,035±254	$85,745	$95,600	9.7%	100%
Ashmore Township	township	1,158	1,255±266	$74,954	$135,100	10.4%	100%
North Okaw TownshipGEOID 1702954014	township	1,004	1,284±425	$84,338	$202,600	16.0%	100%
Paradise TownshipGEOID 1702957615	township	959	925±385	$42,298	not published	9.1%	100%
Hutton Township	township	763	925±243	$84,821	$148,900	14.1%	100%
Oakland	city	739	862±179	$50,848	$98,100	12.0%	100%
Ashmore	village	637	721±215	$56,615	$91,700	16.2%	100%
Humboldt	village	361	329±101	$59,063	$81,500	11.6%	100%
Seven Hickory TownshipGEOID 1702968718	township	312	243±113	$100,515	not published	0.0%	100%
Morgan TownshipGEOID 1702950400	township	304	325±170	$90,385	$154,900	2.2%	100%
LernaGEOID 1742938	village	226	226±90	$67,679	$94,400	14.6%	100%
TrillaGEOID 1776017	CDP	156	122±123	$123,125	$95,800	0.0%	73%
JanesvilleGEOID 1738232	CDP	76	39±45	not published	not published	0.0%	62%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Coles County?

The median resident of Coles County is 37.5 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 18.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.9%. 2.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Coles County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	37.5±0.6	39.0	+1.8
Under 18 years	18.3%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	18.4%±0.1 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.9%	18.8%	+1.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.0%±0.4 pts	58.1%	−2.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.6%±0.5 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.1%±0.7 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.8%±0.9 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.1%±1.0 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.7%±0.7 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	17.6%±1.4 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.1%±1.1 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.1%±1.6 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.9%±1.8 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	11.1%±1.6 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.0%±0.4 pts	1.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Coles County earn?

Half of Coles County's 20,824 households earn less than $56,478 a year (±$3,441), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $56,861 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Coles County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$56,478±$3,441	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$74,657±$3,783	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$33,885±$1,887	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	18.7%±2.2 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	20.8%±4.0 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	19.0%±2.5 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.8%±2.0 pts	90.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Coles County?

Owners occupy 60.4% of Coles County's occupied homes and renters 39.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,400 by its owner (±$7,333). The median renter pays $780 a month including utilities, and 36.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Coles County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$127,400±$7,333	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$780±$41	$1,274	−$78
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.5%±5.0 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,220±$45	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	60.4%±2.3 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	22,681±65	5,457,452	−814
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.7 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.9%±1.9 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	67.5%±1.9 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	3.9%±0.9 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	23.4%±2.0 pts	20.2%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Coles County building?

Builders took permits for 16 new housing units across Coles County in 2025 (16 single-family), 0.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 4 units
2020 4 units
2021 11 units
2022 4 units
2023 30 units
2024 36 units
2025 16 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Coles County get to work?

76.2% of Coles County's workers drive alone and 7.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Coles County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.9%±1.6 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	6.1%±1.4 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.2%±2.4 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	9.2%±2.0 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.2 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	4.8%±1.1 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	7.2%±1.6 pts	15.9%	+2.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	18.2 min±1.2	27.8 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Coles County's census tracts?

Coles County is divided into 13 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $33,974 (Tract 7.02) to $87,708 (Tract 9).

Census tracts of Coles County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 117029000100	Oakland (13%)	2,658	2,385±249	$63,354	$104,500	$669	11.7%
Tract 217029000200	Mattoon (6%)	5,556	5,448±505	$81,660	$221,800	$919	6.6%
Tract 317029000300	Mattoon (91%)	4,293	3,955±378	$69,679	$111,100	$783	18.4%
Tract 417029000400	Mattoon (73%)	2,629	2,665±399	$35,417	$67,300	$483	23.0%
Tract 517029000500	Charleston (83%)	6,017	5,688±516	$41,176	$86,400	$825	21.0%
Tract 617029000600	Ashmore (11%)	3,228	3,302±341	$84,323	$163,900	$758	8.7%
Tract 7.0117029000701	Charleston (68%)	2,806	2,324±353	$69,545	$161,500	$797	13.9%
Tract 7.0217029000702	Charleston	2,767	3,027±430	$33,974	$121,100	$818	46.7%
Tract 817029000800	Charleston	2,831	3,877±280	$47,994	$176,400	$796	36.2%
Tract 917029000900	Charleston (73%)	4,109	3,854±369	$87,708	$196,500	$836	11.1%
Tract 1017029001000	Mattoon (84%)	3,177	3,611±573	$51,597	$113,400	$826	13.4%
Tract 1117029001100	Mattoon (96%)	3,464	3,693±493	$51,558	$93,600	$765	30.0%
Tract 1217029001200	Mattoon (98%)	3,328	2,948±386	$54,818	$98,100	$736	21.0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Coles County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Coles County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	31st of 102
Growth 2020-2025	32nd of 102
Residents per square mile	25th of 102
Median household income	92nd of 102
Median home value	59th of 102
Median gross rent	74th of 102
Poverty rate	8th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	24th of 102
Median age	96th of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Coles County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.