Gilson, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 120, Gilson'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

Gilson is a small community located in Illinois, within Knox County. The total population is 120. It ranks as the 1313th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gilson is 63.0 years. This is 62% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 6.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gilson is $44,531. This is 47% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 1% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 9.6%. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $30,000. Housing costs are 89% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.7x, Gilson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Gilson was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

13.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gilson, Illinois 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 Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.