Village · Illinois

Golden, Illinois

Golden, village, in Adams County, Illinois. Golden had 629 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 648 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 693 (±191). GEOID 1730159.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

629

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 648 · ACS 2020-2024: 693 ±191

Median household income

$55,000

±$18,975 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$122,800

±$39,576 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$760

±$116 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is Golden and what county is it in?

Golden is a village in Adams County, Illinois. It covers 0.6 square miles of land, 1,009 residents per square mile in 2020.

Golden is in the Quincy, IL-MO micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Golden lies mostly within Northeast Township and reaches into Clayton Township (Adams County) and Houston Township, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).

Golden (marked with a dot) in Adams County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Golden, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 629 people lived in Golden on July 1, 2025, down 3.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 648 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 693 (±191).

  • July 2020→2021 −8 (643)
  • 2021→2022 −6 (637)
  • 2022→2023 −1 (636)
  • 2023→2024 −6 (630)
  • 2024→2025 −1 (629)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure GoldenAdams CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Total population 693 ±191 64,754 12,694,798 no clear change
Households 298 ±77 27,915 5,036,449 no clear change
Average household size 2.26 ±0.42 2.25 2.46 no clear change
Housing units 334 ±87 30,302 5,457,452 no clear change

Golden's population since 2000

From 629 in 2000 to 629 in 2025: up 0.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Golden as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 629
  • 2005 (estimate) 628
  • 2010 Census 644
  • 2015 (estimate) 636
  • 2020 Census 648
  • 2025 (estimate) 629

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Golden?

The median resident of Golden is 34.3 years old; 24.1% are under 18 and 25.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 0.9%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure GoldenAdams CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median age 34.3 ±14.5 41.4 39.0 no clear change
Under 18 years 24.1% ±9.5 pts 22.5% 21.8% –
65 years and over 25.5% ±9.9 pts 20.6% 17.0% –
Male 47.0% ±7.1 pts 49.3% 49.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% ±5.3 pts 2.1% 18.8% –
White alone, not Hispanic 98.7% ±1.7 pts 90.0% 58.1% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.3 pts 2.8% 13.3% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.4% ±1.2 pts 0.7% 5.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.3 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.3 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 0.9% ±1.1 pts 4.1% 3.4% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.3 pts 0.2% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 0.3% ±0.4 pts 1.2% 14.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 1.1% ±1.2 pts 2.4% 24.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 10.5% ±4.6 pts 7.7% 4.8% –
With a disability 17.3% ±6.5 pts 18.1% 12.1% –
No health insurance coverage 2.2% ±1.8 pts 4.4% 6.9% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 92.5% ±6.0 pts 93.8% 90.5% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 26.0% ±10.6 pts 27.5% 37.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 6.4% ±5.0 pts 8.8% 15.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 84.9% ±13.7 pts 88.7% 88.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 10.4% ±13.3 pts 2.5% 1.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Golden earn?

Half of Golden's 298 households earn less than $55,000 a year (±$18,975), against $66,220 in Adams County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $62,765 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure GoldenAdams CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $55,000 ±$18,975 $66,220 $83,390 no clear change
Mean household income $67,938 ±$13,547 $85,695 $115,638 –
Per capita income $31,356 ±$6,041 $37,595 $46,406 no clear change
People below the poverty line 6.4% ±6.8 pts 12.8% 11.8% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 0.0% ±20.0 pts 14.3% 15.1% –
Households receiving SNAP 11.7% ±8.3 pts 12.4% 13.8% –
Households with a computer 90.9% ±7.7 pts 91.7% 95.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 82.9% ±10.2 pts 86.5% 90.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Golden?

Owners occupy 77.5% of Golden's occupied homes and renters 22.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $122,800 by its owner (±$39,576). The median renter pays $760 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure GoldenAdams CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $122,800 ±$39,576 $162,600 $263,300 no clear change
Median gross rent $760 ±$116 $828 $1,274 +$185
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 28.6% ±30.1 pts 34.6% 39.0% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,006 ±$138 $1,279 $1,987 –
Owner-occupied homes 77.5% ±10.3 pts 72.1% 67.1% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 22.5% ±10.3 pts 27.9% 32.9% –
Housing units 334 ±87 30,302 5,457,452 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±14.9 pts 0.2% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 13.0% ±11.7 pts 4.3% 5.0% –
Single-family detached homes 93.4% ±3.8 pts 76.3% 58.2% –
Mobile homes 0.6% ±1.0 pts 4.5% 2.3% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±10.6 pts 0.3% 0.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 0.0% ±10.6 pts 4.7% 5.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 28.4% ±8.7 pts 23.0% 20.2% –
Households with no vehicle 7.4% ±7.8 pts 7.5% 11.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Golden work and get to work?

94.8% of Golden's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 28.9 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure GoldenAdams CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 59.3% ±8.4 pts 65.2% 65.0% –
Unemployment rate 2.8% ±3.8 pts 3.9% 5.8% –
Drove alone to work 94.8% ±4.2 pts 79.5% 65.9% –
Carpooled 3.9% ±3.7 pts 8.3% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±11.5 pts 0.4% 5.8% –
Walked 0.7% ±1.1 pts 2.6% 2.8% –
Worked from home 0.7% ±1.1 pts 7.6% 15.9% –
Mean travel time to work 28.9 min ±4.5 16.9 min 27.8 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Golden?

No census tract lies mostly in Golden; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Golden, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Golden
Tract 102Adams County3,789 $66,007 $136,70011%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Golden) · Census block assignment files

How does Golden compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Golden is the 12,277th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 785th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.

Golden is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Golden's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate785th1,294

Golden's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Golden with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Golden?

27 of the 57 figures for Golden on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Golden are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Golden.