The Town FilesGolden, Illinois
Village in Adams County · population 648 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,800
- Household income
- $55,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.3
Golden is a village of 648 people in Adams County, Illinois. The median home is worth $122,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 89% of Illinois towns, quieter than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Golden 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 Golden is worth $122,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $55,000, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $760 | $960 |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Golden
| People | Golden | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Golden
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 30, 1973 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 7, 1982.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 21 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 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 32,154 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,986 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Golden itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Golden
1 public school with 113 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central 3-4 Middle School | 3-4 | 113 | 11.3 |
Towns near Golden
- Camp Point, IL5.6 mi · 1,121 people · home $127,800
- Clayton, IL6.4 mi · 639 people · home $91,500
- Augusta, IL9.1 mi · 553 people · home $83,400
- Mendon, IL14.2 mi · 872 people · home $111,600
- Mount Sterling, IL16.0 mi · 2,006 people · home $131,200
- Liberty, IL16.6 mi · 543 people · home $137,500
- Ursa, IL18.8 mi · 609 people · home $161,900
- Carthage, IL21.8 mi · 2,490 people · home $112,900
Golden questions
Is Golden, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golden scores better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns and quieter than 76%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Golden?
The median owner-occupied home in Golden is valued at $122,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,000, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Golden?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24.1 inches of snow.
Does Golden get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 30, 1973. 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)