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Living in
Galesburg.
About
Life in Galesburg
Galesburg is genuinely affordable—homes median around $96,400 and rent averages $801 a month, which is exceptional if you're coming from anywhere on the coasts. The two colleges bring some intellectual life and cultural programming to town, though the population has declined about 3% over recent years, which tells you something about broader economic trends in rural Illinois. That said, job opportunities are limited outside the education and healthcare sectors, and you'll need a car for most daily errands—this isn't a walkable place.
Galesburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Foreign-Born
4.8%
Broadband Internet
82.3%
of households
Population Growth
-4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Galesburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Galesburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.3%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
45.0%
of households
Married Couples
32.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.04
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 37% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Galesburg
In Galesburg, rent runs 37% below the IL average, and home values are 63% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,917
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $105,557 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Galesburg
Unemployment in Galesburg is 0.9 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Galesburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.6 min avg
How Galesburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Galesburg, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
Quad City International Airport (MLI)
Regional airport · few flights342k passengers boarded in 2025
- 147 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Galesburg runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
453.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,052
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Galesburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
57.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Knox County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Knox County, which includes Galesburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Ice Storm | $335,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $285,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Hail | $82,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Knox County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Peoria County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 34 miles from Galesburg) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Peoria County, IL (34 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Galesburg has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.0"
Annual Snowfall
25.9"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
104
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 1.69" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 2.39" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.83" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.27" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 4.04" |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 3.89" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.85" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.82" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.60" |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 2.14" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Galesburg
Galesburg has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
St Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Osf Holy Family Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Monmouth
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Galesburg
Galesburg's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Galesburg
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,127 students · in-state tuition $60,051 · 72% graduate · median earnings $56,244 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,051 students · in-state tuition $5,500 · 52% graduate · median earnings $38,801 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Galesburg
Galesburg has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
71 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Galesburg
Galesburg Public Library
40 East Simmons Street, Galesburg
Cities Near Galesburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Galesburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Galesburg FAQ
Is Galesburg, Illinois affordable?⌄
Galesburg's median rent is $801/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,297/year. Median home value is $96,400.
Is Galesburg, Illinois safe?⌄
Galesburg's violent crime rate was 453 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3052 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Galesburg, Illinois?⌄
Galesburg has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Galesburg, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Galesburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $801/month and median household income is $48,297/year. The median home value is $96,400. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Galesburg, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Galesburg is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from