Good Hope, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 438, Good Hope'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

Good Hope is a small community located in Illinois, within McDonough County. The total population is 438. It ranks as the 979th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Good Hope is 33.0 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. 11.2% 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 Good Hope is $73,636. This is 12% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.8%. This is 59% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Good Hope, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $97,000. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Good Hope is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Good Hope has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.3% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% 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 97.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Good Hope, 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.