Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 629, laid out in 1866.
26% of residents are 65 or older in Golden, above both the Illinois town median (19%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Golden’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile, above both Illinois’ towns (0.3) and U.S. towns (0.4). Exchange Bank is on the National Register of Historic Places. Golden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Golden beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 317 in 1880, 648 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2015 and 3 maps from 1948 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Golden, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Golden.
Most working residents leave Golden for work: only 2% work in town. Golden’s median household income is $55,000. The top destinations are Quincy (24%), Mount Sterling (13%) and Camp Point (8%).
| Golden | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Golden has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 18° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Golden beats the Illinois average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 37% of adults have high blood pressure in Golden.
| Golden | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| What stands out | Golden | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.2% | 10.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Golden | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $760 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0.9 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Golden Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Golden; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Golden residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
Where Golden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Village in Illinois, US
Golden is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 648 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Golden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
