What are the schools like in Galva, IL?

Galva is served primarily by Galva CUSD 224. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

What is the median household income in Galva?

The median household income in Galva, IL is $53,487 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Galva, IL?

Galva has an average high temperature of 30.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.8 inches.

Galva, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Galva, IL affordable or expensive?

Galva's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Galva is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $77,300 and the median rent is $750 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Galva, IL?

Galva has a violent crime rate of 22.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 257.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Galva, IL a Good Place to Live?

Galva is a small town of 2,473 in Illinois, with a median household income of $53,487 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Galva stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Galva is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Galva city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.3

Galva's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Galva costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Galva, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$77,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$750	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,487	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Galva's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents — 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

22.5 /100k

Property Crime

257.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Galva is served primarily by Galva CUSD 224. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Galva, IL	National Avg
School District	Galva CUSD 224	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Galva sees average highs of 30.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation and 30.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Galva, IL
Average High — January	30.0°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.7"
Annual Snowfall	30.8"

Demographics

Metric	Galva, IL	National Avg
Population	2,473	—
Median Age	43.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bishop Hill, IL 5 mi La Fayette, IL 5 mi Kewanee, IL 8 mi Altona, IL 8 mi Nekoma, IL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Galva

Galva, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61434

Galva vs Other Cities

Galva, IL vs Bishop Hill, IL Galva, IL vs La Fayette, IL Galva, IL vs Kewanee, IL Galva, IL vs Altona, IL Galva, IL vs Nekoma, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Galva, IL affordable or expensive?

Galva's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Galva roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $77,300 and median rent is $750/month.

What is the crime rate in Galva, IL?

Galva's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 257.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Galva?

Public schools in Galva are operated by Galva CUSD 224. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Galva, IL a good place to live?

Galva, IL has a population of 2,473, a median household income of $53,487, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Galva?

Galva averages 30.0°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches with about 30.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Galva?

Galva, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61434.

What is the population of Galva?

The population of Galva, Illinois is 2,473 with a median age of 43.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Galva?

Key numbers for living in Galva: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $77,300, median household income $53,487, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Galva side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.