City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Galena, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Galena - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,899
Residents
$55,765
Median income
$199,700
Median home
$954
Median rent (state)

Galena - the verdict

Nationally, Galena sits in the 28th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

28th
percentile, household income
43rd
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Galena, IL

Galena is a small town in Illinois, home to 2,899 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $55,765 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Galena are valued around $199,700, and the median resident age is 58.1 years. 40.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 66.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 6 residential building permits were authorized in Galena (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.0°F with 39.6 inches of precipitation per year and 37.9 inches of snowfall.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $954 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 51.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

2,899 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$55,765 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Galena compare to other US cities?

Here's how Galena stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 43% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Galena against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Galena near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,335 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Galena ranks #1,245 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Galena only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#948 of 1,311
28th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#858 of 1,336
35th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#357 of 1,315
73rd percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#1,245 of 1,335
0th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#184 of 1,336
86th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

28thIncome percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Galena's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$199,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 57% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Galena $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Galena, IL Galena, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Galena, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Galena, IL median $55,765/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Galena, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Galena, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,899
Median Income
$55,765
Median Home Value
$199,700
Median Age
58.1
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
66.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.0°F
Annual Precipitation
39.6"
Annual Snowfall
37.9"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,150 residents3,200 residents3,250 residents3,300 residents3,350 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,317 residents 3,210 residents ▼ -3.2%
Galena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 3
2021 1
2022 1
2023 4
2024 6

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
60.7%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
2.8%
Walk
11.1%
Work from Home
15.0%

Based on 1,728 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Galena sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$954/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
51.3 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Diamond
2,900 people
Winnebago
2,896 people
El Paso
2,871 people
Arcola
2,867 people
Newton
2,852 people
Savanna
2,851 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Galena's 2,899 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Montana, MT
2,899 people
Woodlynne, NJ
2,899 people
Wynnewood, PA
2,899 people
Fairfield, TX
2,899 people
Fairfield Harbour, NC
2,898 people
Winner, SD
2,900 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Galena's $55,765 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hillsboro, TX
$55,761 median income
Brookfield, NJ
$55,772 median income
Falun, KS
$55,750 median income
Lorraine, KS
$55,750 median income
Clarktown, OH
$55,750 median income
Lockington, OH
$55,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Galena, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Galena, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 98.1% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Galena compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Galena (this city) 2,899 $55,765
Diamond 2,900 $60,000
Winnebago 2,896 $82,813
El Paso 2,871 $70,063
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Galena, IL?

What is the population of Galena, IL? +

Galena, IL has a population of 2,899 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Galena, IL? +

In Galena, the typical household earns $55,765 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Galena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Galena; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Galena, IL? +

Homes in Galena carry a median value of $199,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Galena? +

Climate normals put Galena's yearly average temperature at 47.0°F, 39.6 inches of precipitation, and 37.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.