The Town FilesGalesburg, Illinois
City in Knox County · population 30,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,400
- Household income
- $48,297
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.8
Galesburg is a city of 30,052 people in Knox County, Illinois. The median home is worth $96,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 93% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 85% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Galesburg 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 Galesburg is worth $96,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $48,297, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $801 a month. 62.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galesburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $801 | $960 |
| Median household income | $48,297 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Galesburg
| People | Galesburg | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Galesburg
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 39.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galesburg since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1974 about 1.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 8, 2020.
Severe weather in Knox County since 1996
Knox County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Knox County
Knox County had 17,106 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,491 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Galesburg itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Galesburg
15 public schools with 3,904 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galesburg Senior High School | 7-12 | 1,735 | 23.1 |
| King School | K-4 | 525 | 14.6 |
| Steele School | K-4 | 520 | 13.3 |
| Lombard Middle School | 5-6 | 517 | 12.3 |
| Silas Willard Elem School | K-4 | 427 | 12.2 |
| Bright Futures Pre-K Prog | PK-K | 180 | 18.0 |
| RAES Night School | 6-12 | — | — |
| RAES East Alt Ed | 6-12 | — | — |
| RAES RSSP | 6-12 | — | — |
| RAES West Alt Ed | 6-12 | — | — |
| Knox-Warren SpEd Multi-Needs Prog | Other | — | — |
| RAES West | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Galesburg
- Knoxville, IL5.6 mi · 2,901 people · home $145,300
- Abingdon, IL10.2 mi · 2,951 people · home $99,600
- Monmouth, IL14.1 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
- Aledo, IL25.8 mi · 3,633 people · home $147,600
- Bushnell, IL28.3 mi · 2,718 people · home $71,900
Galesburg questions
Is Galesburg, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galesburg scores better for retirees than 41% of Illinois towns and quieter than 31%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Galesburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Galesburg is valued at $96,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,297, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $801 a month.
What is the weather like in Galesburg?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.0 inches of precipitation a year and 25.9 inches of snow.
Does Galesburg get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galesburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1974. 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)