The Town FilesThe Galena Territory, Illinois
Community in Jo Daviess County · population 1,500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,700
- Household income
- $117,548
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 64.0
The Galena Territory is a community of 1,500 people in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The median home is worth $324,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns, quieter than 99% of Illinois towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Illinois towns.
How The Galena Territory 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 The Galena Territory is worth $324,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $117,548, which is more affordable than 27% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,279 a month. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | The Galena Territory | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,279 | $960 |
| Median household income | $117,548 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 56.7% | — |
Who lives in The Galena Territory
| People | The Galena Territory | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 41.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in The Galena Territory
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of The Galena Territory since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 9, 1970 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 2004.
Severe weather in Jo Daviess County since 1996
Jo Daviess County has been included in 16 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 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County had 7,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in The Galena Territory itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Towns near The Galena Territory
- Galena, IL5.6 mi · 3,308 people · home $233,200
- Elizabeth, IL7.5 mi · 694 people · home $135,900
- Apple Canyon Lake, IL8.9 mi · 574 people · home $329,400
- Hanover, IL9.9 mi · 863 people · home $89,500
- Bellevue, IA10.7 mi · 2,363 people · home $216,500
- Hazel Green, WI11.2 mi · 1,173 people · home $165,700
- Benton, WI12.5 mi · 946 people · home $157,400
- Shullsburg, WI13.2 mi · 1,173 people · home $148,800
The Galena Territory questions
Is The Galena Territory, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, The Galena Territory scores better for retirees than 100% of Illinois towns and quieter than 99%. 48.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.0).
How much does a house cost in The Galena Territory?
The median owner-occupied home in The Galena Territory is valued at $324,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,548, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,279 a month.
What is the weather like in The Galena Territory?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does The Galena Territory get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of The Galena Territory since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 9, 1970. 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)