Population 894 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Gilson
Household size in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Gilson is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.17, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.1 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.3 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.3, Gilson is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Gilson: 4.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gilson
Renters in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Gilson is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 48.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Gilson: 15.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Gilson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $557 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $669 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $786 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,010 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$453 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gilson costs $1,010 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 19.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gilson
Bachelor's degrees in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Gilson: 21.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Gilson: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gilson
| Period | Gilson | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Gilson has been low: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gilson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilson | 2.33 | 52.3 | 4.8% | 15.4% | 15.6% | 1958 | $1,010 | 21.1% | 96.5% | 1.7% |
| Knoxville | 2.23 | 45.4 | 8.8% | 13.2% | 8.4% | 1967 | $670 | 24.0% | 96.9% | 4.4% |
| Maquon | 2.16 | 53.5 | 7.6% | 14.7% | 17.2% | 1948 | $739 | 15.9% | 94.3% | 4.2% |
| East Galesburg | 2.26 | 41.0 | 11.6% | 42.2% | 8.1% | 1972 | $924 | 28.2% | 94.6% | 7.8% |
| Abingdon | 2.32 | 42.1 | 12.4% | 26.3% | 11.7% | 1953 | $710 | 17.8% | 93.6% | 10.0% |
| Galesburg | 2.09 | 42.2 | 12.4% | 35.9% | 13.0% | 1959 | $854 | 20.7% | 87.8% | 4.4% |
| Dahinda | 2.27 | 54.6 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 28.2% | 1990 | $658 | 30.9% | 94.9% | 0.9% |
| London Mills | 2.92 | 36.4 | 8.2% | 12.5% | 16.7% | 1954 | $1,036 | 20.1% | 93.3% | 5.8% |
| Rapatee | 1.97 | 55.6 | 9.3% | 8.0% | 13.6% | 1951 | $661 | 20.2% | 95.1% | 3.1% |
| St. Augustine | 2.47 | 41.7 | 2.7% | 12.5% | 15.0% | 1968 | $737 | 12.6% | 95.6% | 6.9% |
| Elba Center | 2.26 | 48.2 | 7.0% | 20.2% | 12.6% | 1957 | $1,457 | 20.5% | 98.5% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bay Head, NJ · Briar, MO · Blount Springs, AL · Bliss, NY · Biron, WI · Bethel, WI · Bethel, MN · Berlin, NY · Yale, WA · Belmont, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gilson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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