Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Ratings
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Charleston, Illinois is a moderately-sized city with a population of 20,693 inhabitants. The majority of Charleston residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Charleston could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 28 years old is below the nation’s average. In Charleston, only 36% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Charleston. With an average one way commute time of only 15 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Charleston, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Charleston and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes commute, education, employment and other important metrics.
Charleston, IL receives 71/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #293 in Illinois and #5,854 in the USA. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Charleston ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Charleston. The following was graded with a concerning score: crime (D), education (F) and employment (F).
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Charleston has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Charleston meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Charleston. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Charleston are simply unattainable. The median home price for Charleston homes is $193,445, which is 37.3% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Charleston, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 11.4% lower than the Illinois average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Charleston | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 15min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 68.3% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.2% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.7% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 11.8% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 8.6% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
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