The Town FilesGalesville, Wisconsin
City in Trempealeau County · population 1,662 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,000
- Household income
- $71,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 32.8
Galesville is a city of 1,662 people in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $232,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 78% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Galesville ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Galesville is worth $232,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $71,429, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galesville | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $959 | $951 |
| Median household income | $71,429 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Galesville
| People | Galesville | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Galesville
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galesville since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 26, 1959 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 6, 2017.
Severe weather in Trempealeau County since 1996
Trempealeau County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Galesville itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Galesville
3 public schools with 950 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High | 9-12 | 415 | 13.4 |
| Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Middle | 6-8 | 275 | 13.1 |
| Galesville Elementary | PK-5 | 260 | 13.0 |
Towns near Galesville
- Gale, WI3.4 mi · 1,708 people · home $296,400
- Caledonia, WI4.6 mi · 928 people · home $316,500
- Holland, WI5.2 mi · 4,530 people · home $374,400
- Trempealeau, WI6.3 mi · 1,951 people · home $304,600
- Trempealeau, WI6.7 mi · 1,843 people · home $215,600
- Ettrick, WI7.5 mi · 525 people · home $165,000
- Holmen, WI9.0 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- Ettrick, WI9.1 mi · 1,285 people · home $234,000
Galesville questions
Is Galesville, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galesville scores better for retirees than 75% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 30%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Galesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Galesville is valued at $232,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,429, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Galesville?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Galesville get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 26, 1959. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)