United States › Illinois › Galesburg CITY
Galesburg Illinois · 28,581 residents (2025 est.) · 17.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Galesburg is home to 29,481 people in Illinois. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $96,400. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 42%. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. 5% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 11%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 33,706 in 2000
28,581 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,660 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 1,764 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
29K 30K 32K 33K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Galesburg Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $48,297
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,987 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,214 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Public administration 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$96,400
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$801
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $412 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 64.3% in 2000
37.8% rent
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.08 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.1%(27,688)
Hispanic / Latino 5%(1,688)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 70.8%(20,883)
Hispanic / Latino 8.8%(2,591)
from 44 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 79.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 52.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 66.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 66.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 80.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 34.5%(4,183)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 64.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 46.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.7%(242)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.1%(232)
Share of the 1,642 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Galesburg Head to head
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GALESBURG VS
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GALESBURG VS
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Income $44,411 −8%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Galesburg, Illinois? Galesburg, Illinois has about 29,481 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Galesburg, Illinois? The typical household in Galesburg, Illinois earns about $48,297 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Galesburg, Illinois expensive? In Galesburg, Illinois, the median home is worth about $96,400, and the typical rent is about $801 a month.
How educated are people in Galesburg, Illinois? About 19.7% of adults age 25 and over in Galesburg, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Galesburg, Illinois? About 19.1% of people in Galesburg, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Galesburg, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Galesburg, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,049 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.
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