The Town FilesGalva, Illinois
City in Henry County · population 2,470 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,700
- Household income
- $52,470
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 40.4
Galva is a city of 2,470 people in Henry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $83,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Illinois towns, quieter than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Galva 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 Galva is worth $83,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $52,470, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $783 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galva | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $783 | $960 |
| Median household income | $52,470 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Galva
| People | Galva | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Galva
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galva since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1996 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Henry County since 1996
Henry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Henry County
Henry County had 13,805 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Galva itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Galva
2 public schools with 462 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galva Elem School | PK-6 | 261 | 12.4 |
| Galva Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 201 | 11.2 |
Towns near Galva
- Kewanee, IL7.6 mi · 12,509 people · home $73,200
- Toulon, IL10.5 mi · 1,193 people · home $95,500
- Cambridge, IL11.7 mi · 2,086 people · home $123,100
- Oneida, IL11.8 mi · 696 people · home $114,100
- Woodhull, IL14.8 mi · 754 people · home $122,400
- Oak Run, IL15.2 mi · 721 people · home $298,300
- Wyoming, IL15.6 mi · 1,300 people · home $109,500
- Andover, IL15.8 mi · 555 people · home $163,600
Galva questions
Is Galva, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galva scores better for retirees than 60% of Illinois towns and quieter than 72%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Galva?
The median owner-occupied home in Galva is valued at $83,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,470, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $783 a month.
What is the weather like in Galva?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Galva get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galva since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1996. 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)