Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
23%
Galesburg, IL
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$543
Population
28,755
Renter Mix
40% Rent
A college town with historic charm and community gatherings
Affordable
•
Suburban
•
College Town
A charming piece of Illinois history, Galesburg is a one-of-a-kind college town. Home to Knox College, Galesburg is a lively, family-friendly suburb with convenient highway access to Interstate 74. Near this route, residents venture over to Kiwanis Park, offering ball fields, walking trails, a playground, and open green space. Lakeside relaxation awaits at Lake Storey Park in the northwest corner of town, with the perfect lake for fishing and open green space for picnicking by the water.
Small businesses are the source of Galesburg’s small-town charm, like Iron Spike Brewing Company, located in a former fire station. The former home of famous poet Carl Sandburg, Galesburg features several of his childhood homes and numerous other historic landmarks like the Old City Hall. Check out the Galesburg Railroad Museum and the Discovery Depot Children’s Museum for family-friendly fun. The train is a great way to get around the area, and you can hop on it at the Galesburg Train Station which hosts a weekly Farmers Market every Saturday morning!
Explore the City
Residents of Galesburg enjoy visiting local coffee shops and restaurants in historic buildings.
Galesburg, IL, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and residents enjoy stunning architecture across town.
Galesburg's Old City Hall is a historic landmark.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$40,097
Average: $54,720
Education
4,980
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
11,208
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Galesburg has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
40%
Non-Renters
60%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Galesburg, IL is $543 for one bedroom, $695 for two bedrooms, and $1,012 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Galesburg has increased by 1.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$543/month
594 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Galesburg, IL is 8.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Galesburg is 27.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $0 - $1,012. You can expect to pay 3.1% less for groceries, 2.0% more for utilities, and 2.3% more for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Galesburg, IL is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
546 Students
Public
Grades K-5
481 Students
Silas Willard Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
443 Students
Public
Grades K-5
529 Students
Public
Grades K-5
421 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
513 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,130 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
485 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
Public
Grades 6-12
1,130 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Standish Park Arboretum
- Discovery Depot Children's Museum
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Galesburg
Houses for Rent in Galesburg
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.