Coles County is located in east-central Illinois on the broad prairie plains between the Embarras River and its tributaries. Established in 1830 and named for early Illinois settler Edward Coles, the county developed as an agricultural and rail-linked region serving surrounding rural communities. It is mid-sized by Illinois standards, with a population of roughly 50,000 residents. Land use is predominantly rural, characterized by row-crop farming, small towns, and scattered wooded corridors along waterways. Charleston, the county seat, is the primary population center and home to Eastern Illinois University, which contributes to local employment, cultural activity, and a larger student-seasonal population. Mattoon, the other principal city, supports regional manufacturing, services, and transportation functions. Overall, Coles County combines a farm-based landscape with two adjacent urban centers that anchor education, healthcare, and commerce in the surrounding rural area.

Coles County Local Demographic Profile

Coles County is located in east-central Illinois, anchored by the cities of Charleston and Mattoon and positioned along the Interstate 57 corridor. The county’s demographic profile is tracked primarily through U.S. Census Bureau programs and Illinois state data systems.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Coles County, Illinois, the county’s total population was 46,863 (2020 Census).

Age & Gender

The U.S. Census Bureau’s public county profile tables vary by release, and a single, fixed “age distribution” table is not consistently displayed in QuickFacts across all devices and updates. The most reliable county-level age and sex breakdowns are available through the Census Bureau’s data platforms:

  • The age distribution (standard age brackets) and sex composition (male/female) for Coles County are available via data.census.gov (U.S. Census Bureau), which provides county-level tables from the American Community Survey (ACS) and decennial census products where applicable.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Coles County, Illinois, the county’s racial and ethnic composition is reported in standard Census categories (race alone or in combination, and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity). For the most current set of county percentages and counts as presented by the Census Bureau, use the QuickFacts profile directly:

Household & Housing Data

County-level household and housing indicators (including number of households, average household size, owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied housing, and total housing units) are published by the U.S. Census Bureau:

Local Government Reference

For local government and planning resources, visit the Coles County official website.

Email Usage

Coles County is a mixed urban–rural county anchored by Charleston and Mattoon, with lower population density outside these hubs. Rural last‑mile buildout and distance from network backbones can constrain reliable home internet, shaping reliance on email through schools, employers, and public access points rather than uniformly at home. Direct countywide email-usage rates are not routinely published; broadband and device access from federal surveys serve as proxies for likely email access.

Digital access indicators (proxy for email access)

County-level measures of household broadband subscriptions and computer availability are available via the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (American Community Survey), commonly used to approximate residents’ ability to maintain regular email accounts and logins.

Age distribution and email adoption

Age composition influences email adoption because older residents tend to use email for healthcare, government, and financial communication, while younger residents may rely more on messaging platforms. County age structure is reported in the American Community Survey and can be summarized at the county level in data.census.gov.

Gender distribution (relevance)

Gender distribution is generally less predictive of email access than broadband/device access; county sex-by-age tables are also available through the ACS on data.census.gov.

Connectivity and infrastructure limitations

Broadband availability and provider coverage patterns can be reviewed using the FCC National Broadband Map and state planning resources such as the Illinois Office of Broadband (Connect Illinois).

Mobile Phone Usage

Coles County is in east-central Illinois and includes the cities of Charleston (home to Eastern Illinois University) and Mattoon, along with extensive surrounding rural areas. The county’s mix of small urban centers, agricultural land, and low-to-moderate population density outside the main municipalities shapes mobile connectivity outcomes: coverage tends to be strongest along populated corridors and major roads, while performance can vary in sparsely populated areas where tower spacing is wider and backhaul options are more limited. Basic county geography and population context are available through the U.S. Census Bureau and local government references such as the Coles County website.

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

  • Network availability refers to where mobile providers report having service (e.g., LTE/4G or 5G coverage in specific areas).
  • Household adoption refers to whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and/or rely on smartphones/mobile data for internet access.

These two measures do not move in lockstep: a location can be covered by 4G/5G while some households remain non-adopters due to affordability, device constraints, digital skills, or preference for fixed broadband.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

County-level “mobile penetration” is not typically published as a single metric for Coles County. The most defensible county-level adoption indicators come from U.S. Census Bureau surveys that measure how households access the internet and what devices they use.

  • The Census Bureau’s household internet and device measures are published through products such as the American Community Survey (ACS) and are accessible via tools on data.census.gov. Relevant indicators include:
    • Households with a smartphone
    • Households with a cellular data plan
    • Households with internet subscription
    • “Cellular data plan only” households (often used as a proxy for mobile-only internet reliance)

Limitations (important for interpretation):

  • ACS device and subscription tables are survey-based and have margins of error; smaller geographies can have wider uncertainty.
  • Some mobile-specific measures are available at county level in some ACS table structures and years, but availability and naming vary by release. The most reliable approach is to reference the current ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables for Coles County directly in data.census.gov.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network availability (4G/LTE and 5G)

Reported availability (coverage)

The most commonly cited public source for provider-reported mobile broadband coverage is the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC).

  • FCC coverage reporting (LTE/5G): The FCC publishes mobile broadband availability maps and underlying datasets that show where providers report service by technology generation. County-level summaries can be derived from these layers, while the map itself is address- and area-based. Source: FCC National Broadband Map.
  • State broadband mapping context: Illinois broadband planning and mapping resources are maintained through the state’s broadband office and related statewide initiatives. Source: Illinois Office of Broadband / Connect Illinois.

What is generally measurable from these sources (without overstating county specifics):

  • 4G/LTE availability is typically widespread across populated areas and transportation corridors in most Illinois counties, with weaker or more variable performance in sparsely populated areas depending on tower placement and spectrum holdings. The FCC map provides the correct location-by-location view for Coles County rather than a single county-wide figure.
  • 5G availability varies more sharply by carrier and location. The FCC map differentiates 5G technologies as reported (often including “5G NR” footprints that may incorporate low-band coverage and, in some areas, mid-band). The map is the appropriate source for identifying where 5G is reported inside Coles County and around Charleston/Mattoon versus rural townships.

Usage patterns (how people use mobile internet)

Direct county-level measurements of actual 4G vs 5G usage share (by traffic or active devices) are not generally published as public datasets. Publicly accessible sources (FCC/state mapping) are primarily availability rather than actual usage. As a result:

  • Availability of 4G/5G can be described using FCC/state maps.
  • Actual usage patterns (e.g., percentage of mobile data on 5G vs LTE, typical throughput, congestion by hour) are usually only available via carrier analytics or commercial measurement firms and are not typically published at county granularity as open data.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Public, county-level device-type indicators are best obtained from Census Bureau household survey tables:

  • Smartphones: ACS includes measures of households with a smartphone, which supports estimating smartphone presence at the household level for Coles County (with margins of error). Source: data.census.gov.
  • Other device types: ACS also includes related device categories (desktop/laptop, tablet, etc.) that provide context for whether households rely primarily on mobile devices versus multiple device types.

Limitations:

  • Household ownership does not equal individual ownership; a household with one smartphone may include multiple residents.
  • The ACS device questions do not identify operating systems (iOS vs Android) at local level, and they do not directly measure “feature phone” prevalence as a distinct, consistently available category for every geography.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Population distribution and settlement pattern

  • Coles County includes two principal population centers (Charleston and Mattoon) and a broader rural area. In general, mobile network density and capacity align with population concentrations and major corridors, which affects both coverage quality and network performance under load.
  • Population and housing distribution statistics that help contextualize demand and deployment are available from the U.S. Census Bureau and can be explored for Coles County via data.census.gov.

Income, affordability, and mobile-only reliance

  • Affordability pressures can correlate with a higher share of cellular-data-plan-only households (mobile-only internet). This indicator is measured by the Census Bureau and can be reviewed for Coles County in ACS tables on data.census.gov.
  • These figures represent adoption, not network availability. An area can have reported 4G/5G coverage while still having a notable share of households relying on mobile-only access due to cost barriers to fixed broadband.

Age, student presence, and institutional anchors

  • Charleston’s university presence can influence device ownership and mobile data reliance patterns (high smartphone prevalence and routine use of mobile services), but public, county-level datasets generally do not isolate student-specific mobile usage. Demographic composition (age distribution, enrollment, group quarters) can be described using Census data (e.g., ACS demographics) via data.census.gov.

Terrain and physical environment

  • Coles County’s terrain is characteristic of east-central Illinois and is not mountainous; terrain is generally less of a barrier than in hilly regions. Connectivity variability is more commonly tied to tower spacing, spectrum bands used, backhaul availability, and vegetation/building penetration than to major elevation changes.
  • Public maps such as the FCC National Broadband Map are the most direct way to view how reported coverage changes across townships, road networks, and rural areas.

Practical ways public sources support a county-level overview (with limitations stated)

  • Availability (where service is reported): Use the FCC National Broadband Map mobile layers to document LTE and 5G reported footprints inside Coles County. This addresses network presence but does not measure adoption or real-world performance.
  • Adoption (who subscribes/what devices households have): Use data.census.gov to cite ACS household measures for smartphones, cellular data plans, internet subscriptions, and cellular-only households. This addresses uptake but does not prove local coverage quality.
  • State planning context: Use the Illinois Office of Broadband / Connect Illinois for statewide broadband planning context relevant to both fixed and mobile access.

Summary (what can be stated definitively with public data)

  • Network availability in Coles County can be documented using provider-reported LTE/5G coverage from the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection as displayed on the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Household adoption and device access (smartphone presence, cellular data plan, mobile-only households) can be documented using Census Bureau survey tables accessed via data.census.gov, with margins of error acknowledged.
  • County-level public data on actual 4G vs 5G usage share, traffic volumes, and time-of-day congestion is generally not available as open data; public sources primarily measure reported availability and household subscription/device indicators rather than granular, observed network utilization.

Social Media Trends

Coles County is in east-central Illinois and is anchored by Charleston (home to Eastern Illinois University) and Mattoon, with a mix of higher-education, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing employment. A university presence and a sizable student/young-adult population typically corresponds with higher daily use of mobile-first platforms, while the county’s broader small-city/rural context aligns with strong Facebook reach for local news, events, and community groups.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • Local, county-specific social media penetration figures are not published in standard federal datasets; most reliable measurement is available at the U.S. or state/market level rather than by county.
  • National benchmarks commonly used for local planning:
    • Overall adoption: About 69% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site (Pew Research). Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.
    • Platform-specific use (U.S. adults): Pew reports long-run, comparable platform shares used in the “Most-used platforms” section below.
  • Practical implication for Coles County: Adult social media usage is expected to be broadly similar to national levels, with elevated participation among college-age residents due to Eastern Illinois University’s concentration of 18–24-year-olds (age patterns summarized below).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Using Pew’s national age patterns as the most reliable proxy for local age gradients:

  • Highest overall social media use: 18–29 and 30–49 age groups (highest penetration and frequency across most platforms). Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.
  • Platform skew by age (national patterns):
    • Younger adults (18–29): disproportionately strong on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
    • Middle age (30–49): broad multi-platform use; strong presence on Facebook and YouTube, with notable use of Instagram.
    • Older adults (50+): comparatively higher concentration on Facebook and YouTube; lower use of Snapchat/TikTok.

Gender breakdown

Reliable county-level gender splits by platform are generally not available publicly; national survey patterns provide the best comparative reference:

  • Women are more likely than men to use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
  • Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as YouTube and some discussion/community sites in certain surveys. Source for gender-by-platform comparisons: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult benchmarks used as local reference)

Pew’s U.S. adult usage estimates (commonly cited as a baseline for local areas without county-level measurement):

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Local community information flows heavily through Facebook: In small-city and mixed rural/urban counties, Facebook commonly functions as a default channel for community groups, local events, school/community updates, and local news sharing, aligning with Facebook’s broad age coverage and high U.S. penetration (Pew).
  • Video-first consumption is structurally important: With YouTube’s very high reach nationally, how-to content, local highlights, sports, and community storytelling tend to perform well in similar counties; YouTube also spans age groups more evenly than many other platforms (Pew).
  • Younger audiences concentrate attention on short-form video: TikTok/Instagram Reels/Snapchat usage is strongest among younger adults nationally (Pew), consistent with expected higher engagement among EIU students and other 18–24 residents.
  • Engagement tends to be “broadcast + groups” for older cohorts: Older users more often rely on Facebook feeds and groups and engage via likes, comments, and shares rather than platform-hopping (Pew age patterns).
  • Platform preference often maps to purpose:
    • Facebook: local coordination, events, marketplace/group activity.
    • Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat: entertainment, creator content, peer sharing (younger skew).
    • YouTube: long-form and instructional content across ages.
    • LinkedIn: professional networking and job-related content (higher among college-educated adults nationally; Pew).

Family & Associates Records

Coles County family-related public records primarily include vital records (birth and death), marriage and dissolution of marriage records, probate case files (estates, guardianships), and certain court records that can identify family relationships. In Illinois, birth and death certificates are state vital records maintained locally by the county clerk and the local health department, with certified copies typically issued only to eligible parties. Adoption records are generally sealed by law and are not available as public records except through authorized procedures.

Public-facing case information is available for some associate-related records through the Illinois court system. Coles County Circuit Court case access is provided via the statewide portal: Illinois Courts Odyssey Public Access. Official county office contacts and services are listed through the county website: Coles County, Illinois (official website).

In-person access is typically available through the Coles County Clerk (vital records, marriage records) and the Coles County Circuit Clerk (court and probate files) during regular business hours; record searches may require names, dates, and applicable fees. Privacy restrictions commonly apply to juvenile matters, adoptions, and certain family law case contents, and certified vital records access is restricted under state rules.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

Marriage-related records

  • Marriage licenses (applications) and marriage certificates/returns: Created when a couple applies for a marriage license and the officiant files the completed return after the ceremony.
  • Certified copies and verification letters: Issued from the same underlying county marriage record, commonly used for legal proof of marriage.

Divorce-related records

  • Divorce case files and final judgments (divorce decrees): Maintained as civil court records. The “decree” is the final judgment dissolving the marriage and may incorporate orders on parenting issues, support, and property division.
  • Related domestic-relations orders: May include allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support orders, maintenance (alimony) orders, and qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) when applicable.

Annulments (invalidity of marriage)

  • Judgments of invalidity of marriage (annulments): Illinois law treats annulment as a court determination that a marriage is invalid; these are maintained as domestic-relations court records similar to divorce cases.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Marriage records (county vital record)

  • Filed with: The Coles County Clerk (the local registrar for marriages in the county).
  • Access methods: Common access routes include in-person requests at the County Clerk’s office, written/mail requests, and, where offered by the office, online ordering for certified copies. Requests generally require sufficient identifying details (names, date range, and place) and payment of statutory fees.

Divorce and annulment records (court record)

  • Filed with: The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Coles County (Domestic Relations/Chancery or the applicable civil division).
  • Access methods:
    • Public case index/docket access for basic case information is typically available through the circuit clerk’s public access terminals and/or online docket systems used by Illinois circuit courts.
    • Document access (pleadings, orders, judgments) is available through the circuit clerk, subject to redaction rules and any sealing/impoundment orders. Certified copies of judgments (decrees) are obtained from the circuit clerk.

State-level references

  • Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records: Maintains statewide indexes and issues certain certificates and verifications for vital events (including marriages and divorces) consistent with Illinois law and agency practice. County records remain the primary source for county-filed marriage records and court-filed divorce/annulment judgments.
    Reference: Illinois Department of Public Health – Vital Records

Typical information included in these records

Marriage licenses/certificates

Common data elements include:

  • Full names of the parties (including prior names where recorded)
  • Date and place of marriage
  • Date of license issuance and license number
  • Officiant’s name and authority, and date the return was completed/filed
  • Ages or dates of birth (format varies by time period)
  • Residences/addresses at time of application (often recorded)
  • Parent/guardian consent notation when required by law for minors (historically applicable)

Divorce decrees (final judgments) and case records

Common data elements include:

  • Names of parties and case number
  • Date of filing and date of judgment
  • Court findings and orders dissolving the marriage
  • Disposition terms, which may include:
    • Allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time (when minor children are involved)
    • Child support and healthcare insurance provisions
    • Maintenance (spousal support), when ordered
    • Property and debt allocation
    • Restoration of a former name, when granted
  • Ancillary filings may include financial affidavits, settlement agreements, and motions; content varies widely by case.

Annulment (judgment of invalidity)

Common data elements include:

  • Names of parties and case number
  • Date of filing and date of judgment
  • Statutory grounds/findings supporting invalidity
  • Orders addressing children, support, and property issues where applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

Marriage records

  • Marriage records are generally treated as public records, but access to certified copies is typically limited to the persons named on the record and others with a legally recognized interest, consistent with county practice and state vital-records rules.
  • Government-issued identification and/or notarized applications may be required for certified copies, depending on the request method.

Divorce and annulment court records

  • Court case dockets are generally public, but specific documents or information may be restricted by Illinois Supreme Court rules and court orders.
  • Confidential/impounded/sealed materials: Courts may seal or impound parts of a file (or an entire file) in limited circumstances. Sensitive information involving minors, certain family law evaluations, and other protected materials may be withheld from public inspection.
  • Redaction requirements: Illinois court records are subject to redaction rules for personal identifiers (commonly including Social Security numbers and certain financial account information) before public release, and clerks may provide redacted copies for public access.
  • Certified copies of judgments are issued by the circuit clerk; access to non-public documents requires authorization by statute or court order.

Education, Employment and Housing

Coles County is in east-central Illinois along the Interstate 57 corridor, anchored by Charleston (home to Eastern Illinois University) and Mattoon. The county combines two micropolitan cities with extensive surrounding rural townships, creating a community context shaped by higher education, regional healthcare and manufacturing employment, and a housing stock split between older in-town neighborhoods and rural properties. Recent demographic and economic conditions are commonly summarized using U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) estimates and federal labor-market series.

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Public K–12 education in Coles County is primarily delivered through several districts serving Charleston, Mattoon, and surrounding communities. A consolidated, authoritative count and complete school list is best verified via the state report cards and district directories (school openings/closures can change year to year). Public-school listings and accountability data are published through the Illinois Report Card and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Major districts that operate public schools in the county include:

  • Charleston Community Unit School District 1
  • Mattoon Community Unit School District 2
  • Oakland Community Unit School District 5
  • Cumberland Community Unit School District 77
  • Arcola Community Unit School District 306 (serves parts of the county region; attendance boundaries can cross county lines)

Note: District-level sources provide the most current school-by-school names and counts; county-level “number of public schools” is not consistently published as a single official statistic across all agencies.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: School and district ratios are reported in Illinois accountability datasets and vary by district and grade band. The most defensible way to report them for Coles County is to reference district report-card metrics in the Illinois Report Card (district profiles list staffing and enrollment-based indicators).
  • Graduation rates: Illinois publishes high-school graduation rates by school and district in the Illinois Report Card. Countywide aggregation is not consistently presented as a single rate; district rates are the standard reporting unit.

Adult educational attainment (countywide)

Adult education levels are most consistently reported via the U.S. Census Bureau ACS. The county profile is available through data.census.gov (Table S1501: Educational Attainment). Indicators typically summarized include:

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Reported in ACS S1501.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Reported in ACS S1501.
    Because Coles County includes a major public university, adult attainment patterns often reflect a mix of student populations and degree-holding residents, and ACS margins of error should be noted when citing precise percentages from small geographies.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

Across Illinois, common secondary offerings include:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)/vocational pathways aligned to regional labor needs (manufacturing, health, transportation/logistics, agriculture).
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-credit coursework (often coordinated with community colleges and universities). Program availability varies by high school and district and is documented in district curricula and school profile pages; statewide academic and coursework indicators appear in the Illinois Report Card.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Illinois districts generally document safety and student-support resources through board policies and school handbooks. Commonly reported measures include:

  • Controlled building access, visitor management, drills (fire/lockdown), and coordination with local law enforcement.
  • Student services teams including school counselors, social workers, and psychologists (staffing varies by district and building).
    School climate and disciplinary indicators are reported in Illinois accountability systems, with district-level context available through the Illinois Report Card.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment (most recent available)

The most recent official local unemployment rates are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Coles County’s latest annual and monthly rates are available via BLS LAUS (county series).
Note: A single “most recent year” value depends on the latest finalized annual average; LAUS is the standard source.

Major industries and employment sectors

Coles County’s employment base typically reflects:

  • Education services (including the university presence in Charleston)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services
  • Public administration Industry shares are most consistently quantified using ACS employment-by-industry tables on data.census.gov (e.g., S2403: Industry by Sex; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational composition (management; education; healthcare; sales; office/admin; production; transportation; service occupations) is reported in ACS occupation tables (e.g., S2401/S2402) on data.census.gov. In counties with a university and regional healthcare facilities, education and healthcare occupations tend to be more prominent than in strictly agricultural counties, while production and transportation jobs remain significant due to manufacturing and logistics.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Commuting indicators are reported in ACS (DP03 and commuting tables such as S0801) on data.census.gov, including:

  • Mean travel time to work (minutes)
  • Mode share (drive alone, carpool, public transit, walk, work from home) Coles County’s travel patterns are generally car-oriented, with commuting flows tied to Charleston/Mattoon employment centers and nearby counties along I‑57.

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

“Worked in county of residence” versus “worked outside county” is reported in ACS commuting/residence-to-workplace measures (notably in S0801 and related journey-to-work tables) available through data.census.gov. Counties with a university and hospital system often retain a sizable share of local workers while also exporting commuters to nearby employment hubs.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

The homeownership rate and renter share are published in ACS housing tables (DP04) via data.census.gov. Coles County’s tenure pattern typically reflects:

  • Higher renter concentrations near the university and in apartment-heavy areas of Charleston and Mattoon
  • Higher owner-occupancy in outlying subdivisions and rural townships

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value is reported in ACS (DP04) on data.census.gov.
  • Recent trends: The most consistent “trend” framing comes from comparing 1-year (where available) or 5-year ACS medians across periods; small-area volatility and margins of error are material. Local market movements also reflect broader Illinois and Midwest pricing patterns, with university-adjacent rental demand and older housing stock influencing neighborhood variation.

Typical rent prices

Median gross rent is available in ACS DP04 via data.census.gov. Rents typically vary by:

  • Proximity to campus (Charleston) and major employers
  • Building age and amenities (older small multifamily vs. newer complexes)

Types of housing

Coles County housing stock commonly includes:

  • Single-family detached homes in established neighborhoods of Charleston and Mattoon and in smaller communities
  • Apartments and small multifamily near university-oriented areas and city corridors
  • Rural lots/farm-adjacent residences outside municipal boundaries
    ACS DP04 provides distributions by structure type and year built.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • In Charleston, residential areas near Eastern Illinois University and the downtown core tend to have more rentals and multifamily options, with walkability to campus-related services.
  • In Mattoon, neighborhoods near retail corridors and civic amenities commonly show a mix of owner-occupied subdivisions and older central housing.
  • Smaller towns (e.g., Oakland and surrounding villages) are typically lower-density with closer proximity to local schools but fewer large-scale amenities, relying on regional travel to Charleston/Mattoon for specialized services.
    These characteristics are best corroborated through municipal planning documents and GIS parcel/land-use layers; countywide summaries are not typically published as a single official metric.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Illinois property taxes are administered locally and vary by taxing district (schools, municipalities, county, parks, etc.). For county-level and parcel-level detail:

  • The Illinois Department of Revenue publishes property tax statistics and reports via Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • The effective tax burden for homeowners is often summarized in ACS via “median real estate taxes paid” (DP04) on data.census.gov.
    Note: A single “average rate” is not uniform across Coles County because rates differ by township, municipal boundaries, and overlapping districts; median taxes paid and effective rates are commonly used proxies in public datasets.

Primary data references used for the most recent available measures: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) on data.census.gov for education/industry/commuting/housing indicators; BLS LAUS for unemployment; Illinois Report Card for school-level and district-level education metrics and programs.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Illinois