The Town FilesGolconda, Illinois
City in Pope County · population 630 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,300
- Household income
- $41,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 58.7
Golconda is a city of 630 people in Pope County, Illinois. The median home is worth $69,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 97% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Golconda ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Golconda is worth $69,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $41,875, which is more affordable than 79% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $393 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golconda | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $393 | $960 |
| Median household income | $41,875 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Golconda
| People | Golconda | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Golconda
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golconda since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 2003 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Pope County since 1996
Pope County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Pope County
Pope County had 643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,535 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Golconda itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Golconda
2 public schools with 478 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County Elementary School | PK-8 | 305 | 12.2 |
| Pope Co High School | 9-12 | 173 | 13.3 |
Towns near Golconda
- Rosiclare, IL8.6 mi · 980 people · home $60,900
- Salem, KY15.1 mi · 722 people · home $102,400
- Brookport, IL18.0 mi · 725 people · home $58,300
- Metropolis, IL18.4 mi · 5,969 people · home $86,000
- Ledbetter, KY21.4 mi · 1,836 people · home $120,800
- Paducah, KY21.9 mi · 27,137 people · home $165,300
- Vienna, IL22.2 mi · 1,343 people · home $81,300
- Marion, KY22.4 mi · 2,916 people · home $97,300
Golconda questions
Is Golconda, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golconda scores better for retirees than 83% of Illinois towns and quieter than 97%. 32.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.7).
How much does a house cost in Golconda?
The median owner-occupied home in Golconda is valued at $69,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,875, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $393 a month.
What is the weather like in Golconda?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Golconda get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golconda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 2003. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)