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Galesburg, IL micro area: population growth, jobs and income

The Galesburg, IL micro area lost 197 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.4%).

The Galesburg, IL micro area had an estimated 47,767 residents in 2025, down 4.1% (2,045 fewer people) since 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now.

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Headline numbers

New homes permitted (calendar 2025)

1

2025

0.0 per 1,000 residents

Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.

Population, migration, employment, permits, unemployment and income are the figures each agency publishes for the area itself (OMB Bulletin 23-01 delineation; ACS 2016-20 and CBP 2018 use the delineation of their year). IRS migration is the sum of the member counties.

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 87 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.

Private employers had 14,242 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Builders were authorized to start 1 new homes in 2025, or 0.0 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $57,030 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +28.3% since 2016–20.

Population growth over five years ranks 20th of 21 Illinois micro areas and 510th of 538 U.S. micro areas.

IRS tax-return data for 2022-2023 show a net loss of 90 people (the sum of its counties).

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How it ranks

How it ranks
MeasureAmong U.S. micro areas
Population growth510th of 538
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents377th of 538
Private-sector job growth458th of 495
Median household income393rd of 538
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents529th of 534

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment), against areas with a figure for the same period.

Fastest-growing metro areas in Illinois · Fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Knox County, IL, the principal county of the Galesburg, IL area, as a PDF: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet. See a sample CSV.

Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number

Counties in this micro area

The 1 county of the Galesburg, IL micro area: Census population estimates
CountyRoleResidents2025Share of residents2025Change2020–2025Share of the change2020–2025
Knox County, ILCentral47,767100.0%−2,045 (−4.1%)100%

Census Bureau population estimates (July 1). Shares are of the member counties' total; a share of the change shows only when every county moved the same way. – means no figure for the common period.

All Illinois counties

Nearby and similar metro areas

Next to this micro area

Similar in size

Questions

Is the Galesburg, IL micro area growing?

No. Its population fell 4.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,045 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates).

How many people moved to the Galesburg, IL micro area?

Net domestic migration was about −87 in 2025: about 87 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau estimate). International migration is not in this figure.

What is the population of the Galesburg, IL micro area?

About 47,767 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in the Galesburg, IL micro area?

Private employers there had 14,242 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What is the median household income in the Galesburg, IL micro area?

$57,030 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Knox County data alerts

Email me when Knox County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Knox County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.