Golden Gate, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 87, Golden Gate'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

Golden Gate is a small community located in Illinois, within Wayne County. The total population is 87. It ranks as the 1354th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Golden Gate is 86.8 years. This is 123% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 5.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 54.0% 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 Golden Gate is $16,020. This is 81% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 80% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.6%. This is 134% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. 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 Golden Gate, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 43.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Golden Gate has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Asian residents account for 9.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.8% vs 58.1%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (9.2% vs 5.9%).

Education

12.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 40.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Golden Gate, 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.