1st Advantage MortgageThe median Coles County household earns $56,478, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Coles County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Coles County
- The Coles County job picture
- Housing costs in Coles County
- Counties near Coles County
- Places inside Coles County
- A Coles County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Coles County
- Local borrowing considerations for Coles County
- Lender oversight for Coles County
- Checklist for Coles County applicants
- More guides for Coles County
- Frequently asked questions
Coles County at a glance
With an estimated 46,777 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Coles County ranks 31st of 102 in Illinois for population. Packed into 508 square miles, that is close to 92 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Coles County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Charleston, with about 17,062 residents, or 36% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Coles County
The median household income in Coles County is $56,478; statewide it is $83,390, so Coles County runs 32% below Illinois as a whole. In the state ranking that is 92nd of 102.
| Band | Coles County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.1% | +11.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -9.7 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 18.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.452 here. None of these numbers decides a Coles County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Coles County job picture
The biggest employer of Coles County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 24% for Illinois. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Coles County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Top industries | Coles County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +6.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Coles County
Renters in Coles County pay a median of $780 a month, 39% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,400, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 60%. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Coles County | Illinois | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $780/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 2.3% | n/a |
Counties near Coles County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $59,941 in Edgar County to $77,320 in Douglas County; all six of these neighbors top Coles County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coles County | - | $56,478 | $780/mo | 60% |
| Cumberland County, IL | 17 mi | $73,327 | $772/mo | 84% |
| Douglas County, IL | 17 mi | $77,320 | $848/mo | 77% |
| Moultrie County, IL | 23 mi | $71,784 | $804/mo | 76% |
| Clark County, IL | 26 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Edgar County, IL | 28 mi | $59,941 | $775/mo | 73% |
| Shelby County, IL | 32 mi | $72,095 | $814/mo | 78% |
Places inside Coles County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Coles County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,300 in Charleston to $56,615 in Ashmore. Rent is cheapest in Oakland ($506) and steepest in Ashmore ($841). Live in one of these Coles County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | city | 17,062 | $49,300 | $817 | 3 mi |
| Mattoon | city | 16,586 | $51,597 | $740 | 8 mi |
| Oakland | city | 862 | $50,848 | $506 | 14 mi |
| Ashmore | village | 721 | $56,615 | $841 | 11 mi |
| Humboldt | village | 329 | $59,063 | $877 | 8 mi |
| Lerna | village | 226 | $67,679 | $850 | 8 mi |
A Coles County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Coles County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,706 gross per month ($56,478 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $780 uses 17%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,103 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Coles County's.
People and households in Coles County
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 7.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Coles County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Coles County
Where the Coles County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Coles County loan.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Lender oversight for Coles County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Coles County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Coles County applicants
Quick steps for Coles County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Illinois.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Coles County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Coles County?
$56,478 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 92nd of 102 in the state.
How does Coles County rent compare with Illinois?
$780 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 39% below.
Which towns does the Coles County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Charleston, Mattoon, Oakland, Ashmore, Humboldt.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Coles County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Coles County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.