Gough, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 139, Gough's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Gough is a small community located in Georgia, within Burke County. The total population is 139. It ranks as the 622nd most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gough is 77.4 years. This is 106% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 7.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 65.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gough is $13,872. This is 82% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 83% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 87.8%. This is 555% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Gough, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $9,999. Housing costs are 97% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.7x, Gough is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 15.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 77% lower than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gough has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 14.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (14.4%) is well below the state average of 49.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (85.6% vs 30.7%).

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 34.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gough, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 669 Census-designated places in Georgia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.