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Charleston, Illinois is the kind of college town that earns that label honestly, a mid-sized downstate community of roughly 20,000 people where Eastern Illinois University is genuinely woven into the fabric of the place rather than simply sitting next to it. The historic downtown square is a short walk from the edge of campus and anchors a commercial district with local restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and small businesses that cater to students and longtime residents alike. The EIU campus itself is attractive and walkable, with Georgian-style brick buildings and open quads that fill with activity when classes are in session and go quiet during breaks in a way that makes the rhythms of the academic year feel tangible in the community. Housing in Charleston is a genuine strength for students: the off-campus rental market is well-developed, with a wide range of apartments and older rental houses available at prices that are accessible compared to larger Illinois cities. Bike-friendly streets connect the campus neighborhoods to downtown and beyond, and the flat central Illinois terrain makes cycling a practical everyday option for much of the year. For students who want authentic college-town character, manageable living costs, and a community that takes the university seriously, Charleston is a consistently reliable choice.
The streets immediately west and south of the main EIU campus along Fourth Street form the heart of the student residential scene. Apartments and rental houses here put students within easy walking distance of academic buildings, dining halls, and the student recreation center.
Running south from the eastern edge of campus, Lincoln Avenue and its side streets host a dense concentration of student apartments and multi-unit rental properties. The area offers solid walkability to campus and proximity to off-campus restaurants and convenience stores.
The blocks surrounding Charleston's historic town square, a comfortable walk from campus, blend older apartment buildings with converted single-family homes. Students who appreciate an actual neighborhood feel with local shops and a coffee shop nearby tend to gravitate toward this area.
Moving further south and east from campus, the residential streets in this part of Charleston offer more single-family rental houses at accessible price points. Groups of two to four students often share these larger homes, trading a slightly longer walk to class for more space and outdoor areas.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Charleston.
Charleston does not have a robust public bus network for general city use, but Eastern Illinois University operates a campus area shuttle service that helps students move between major campus destinations. Coles County also has a regional transit service with limited routes that can connect students to nearby communities including Mattoon, a short distance west. Most students find that a combination of on-campus shuttles and personal vehicles covers the majority of their transportation needs.
Charleston is genuinely walkable for students living near campus, with many apartments and rental houses situated within a 10 to 15 minute walk of academic buildings. The terrain is flat and the streets in the core student neighborhoods see light traffic, making cycling a practical everyday option. EIU provides bike racks throughout campus and the relatively compact size of Charleston means that most errands and social trips can be done on two wheels during the warmer months. Winters in central Illinois do limit cycling season for many students.
Parking is one of Charleston's clear advantages over larger university cities. Students who live off campus can typically find free or inexpensive street parking near their homes, and most apartment complexes and rental houses include at least one off-street parking spot per unit. University parking permits are required in designated campus lots during business hours, but enforcement is predictable and the permit process is straightforward. Students rarely report parking as a significant source of daily stress in Charleston.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Charleston is one of the more affordable college towns in Illinois. Shared rental houses, which are common near EIU, can bring per-person costs down significantly. One-bedroom apartments near campus are pricier than shared options but still modest by Illinois standards. Overall, most students find housing costs in Charleston manageable on a typical student budget.
Browse student housing near each Charleston-area university.