The Town FilesGalena, Kansas
City in Cherokee County · population 2,761 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,500
- Household income
- $49,006
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 54
- Median age
- 46.6
Galena is a city of 2,761 people in Cherokee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $78,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks hipper than 92% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 82% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 77% of Kansas towns.
How Galena ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Galena is worth $78,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $49,006, which is more affordable than 81% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galena | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $692 | $815 |
| Median household income | $49,006 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Galena
| People | Galena | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Galena
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galena since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 174 deaths and 1,504 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 165 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 5,829 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Galena itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Galena
4 public schools with 781 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galena High | 9-12 | 236 | 15.7 |
| Spring Grove Primary Center | PK-2 | 216 | 19.6 |
| Galena Middle School | 6-8 | 174 | 14.5 |
| Liberty Elem | 3-5 | 155 | 12.9 |
Towns near Galena
- Baxter Springs, KS6.7 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Joplin, MO7.4 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Carl Junction, MO8.0 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Webb City, MO10.3 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Oronogo, MO12.4 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Columbus, KS13.3 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Carthage, MO17.9 mi · 15,522 people · home $146,800
- Miami, OK18.3 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
Galena questions
Is Galena, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galena scores better for retirees than 45% of Kansas towns and quieter than 61%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Galena?
The median owner-occupied home in Galena is valued at $78,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,006, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Galena?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Galena get tornadoes?
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 2011. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)