Charleston

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Charleston, IL Area Guide

A historic suburb home to Eastern Illinois University

Historic Suburban Affordable University College Town

Charleston is a close-knit community surrounded by rural land. The city is known for its rich history and is home to several local landmarks and museums like Alexander Briggs House and the Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum. Charleston is also home to Eastern Illinois University, giving the city a college-town vibe. Although Charleston is a small town, there are plenty of amenities in the city, like supermarkets, coffee shops, casual restaurants, and great schools. Residents appreciate the family-friendly atmosphere, peaceful residential streets, and affordable apartments, houses, and condos available for rent in Charleston.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Charleston, IL is $492 for a studio, $654 for one bedroom, $919 for two bedrooms, and $1,048 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Charleston has increased by 1.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$654/month
578 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Charleston, IL

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Charleston, IL is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

57 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Bikeable

55 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Charleston Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Charleston High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Eastern Illinois University Observatory
  • Douglas-Hart Nature Center
  • Fox Ridge State Park

Top Apartments in Charleston

Houses for Rent in Charleston

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.