The Town FilesGalatia, Illinois
Village in Saline County · population 827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,200
- Household income
- $48,258
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.6
Galatia is a village of 827 people in Saline County, Illinois. The median home is worth $70,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 83% of Illinois towns, better for families than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Galatia 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 Galatia is worth $70,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $48,258, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $912 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galatia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $912 | $960 |
| Median household income | $48,258 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Galatia
| People | Galatia | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Galatia
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galatia since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 29, 2012 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 102 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 6, 2019.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1850: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1826: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 8,307 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,586 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Galatia itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Galatia
4 public schools with 374 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galatia Elem School | K-5 | 164 | 14.9 |
| Galatia High School | 9-12 | 108 | 9.0 |
| Galatia Jr High | 6-8 | 80 | 16.0 |
| Galatia Grade School Annex | PK-PK | 22 | 7.3 |
Towns near Galatia
- Harrisburg, IL8.2 mi · 8,219 people · home $84,100
- Eldorado, IL9.8 mi · 3,743 people · home $66,200
- Carrier Mills, IL10.6 mi · 1,672 people · home $60,100
- Pittsburg, IL13.5 mi · 565 people · home $129,200
- Equality, IL16.6 mi · 539 people · home $82,900
- Johnston City, IL17.1 mi · 3,384 people · home $88,100
- West Frankfort, IL17.6 mi · 7,275 people · home $81,200
- McLeansboro, IL17.7 mi · 2,675 people · home $79,500
Galatia questions
Is Galatia, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galatia scores better for retirees than 60% of Illinois towns and quieter than 64%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Galatia?
The median owner-occupied home in Galatia is valued at $70,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,258, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $912 a month.
What is the weather like in Galatia?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.9 inches of snow.
Does Galatia get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galatia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 29, 2012. 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)