Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Cheap to live in, with trade-offs. At B− overall, Galion is better than 45% of U.S. towns and ranks 653rd of 987 in Ohio. The weak point is health (D): CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 88% of the country. It lags on incomes as well: the median household income is $52K, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Cost of living is where it shines: a typical home costs about $174K, 3 years of the Bucyrus area’s $58K median household income. Its National Register listings include Big Four Depot and Adam Howard House. 20% of working residents work locally here, where Ohio’s towns sit at 6.8% and U.S. towns at 8%. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 92% of U.S. towns, with 4 places on the National Register.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · health, CDC PLACES · National Register of Historic Places · Census LEHD, 2023.
Where Galion beats most towns.
Big Four DepotEach subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Ohio), ordered by how far Galion is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,966 in 1860, 10,453 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 4 maps from 1913 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Galion, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Galion.
Galion trades workers with Columbus and other neighbors and has property taxes about half the Ohio norm.
Galion: 16% of adults binge drink. Nearly a fifth of adults in Galion smoke cigarettes; 17% report frequent physical distress.
| Galion | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 28% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 26% | 23% |
| What stands out | Galion | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.9% | 8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.8% | 15.3% |
| More smokers | 19.4% | 15.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The largest public high school is Galion High School, with 408 students. The public schools here belong to the Galion City school district. Below: Two of its 4 schools, each with why it was picked.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 421 | – |
| Galion High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 408 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OH on state tests and graduation
In Galion, the FEMA risk score is 22 of 100. Since 1981, Galion has seen 41 flood insurance claims paid out. Expected losses in Galion break down as 49% from inland flooding and 14% from cold waves. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Galion after 7 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The median property tax bill is $1,309, against $2,822 across Ohio, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
A typical home in Galion is worth about $174,000, up 3.8% in a year, 29% below the Ohio typical home. In Galion, 59% of households live in a home they own. The town’s midpoint rent stands at $803 a month.
| Galion | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 59% | 77% | 73% |
| Median rent | $803 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Summer afternoons peak near 83° in July, and January nights bottom out around 18°; snowfall runs to about 26 inches a winter. Winters in Galion are chilly and summers pleasant.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Its level of violent crime comes in at 2 per 1,000 residents. In Galion, the level of property crime is 6.6 per 1,000 residents.
| Galion | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.6 per 1,000 residents | 9.4 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Galion has about as many jobs (4,204) as working residents, but only 916 people both live and work here.
Galion had 4,204 jobs in 2023, up 394 from 2013. The typical journey to work for Galion comes to 27 minutes. Half commute less than 16 miles. The top destinations are Columbus (9%), Mansfield (8%) and Bucyrus (6%).
| Galion | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 20% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The biggest park or preserve is Heise Park, at 54 acres. Trails total 0.2 miles in 6 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in Galion: 6, covering 132 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Heise Park | — | 54 |
| 2. Cobey Park | — | 35 |
| 3. Peco Park | — | 23 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Galion. Close and well known come first.
15 mi MuseumOhio State Reformatory
21 mi LandmarkHarding Tomb
21 mi State parkMalabar Farm State Park
12 mi GardenKingwood Center
14 mi MuseumMansfield Memorial Museum
15 mi MuseumBibleWalkOhio State Reformatory: Niagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Harding Tomb: User:Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Malabar Farm State Park: Jerward at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Kingwood Center: Mar07 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Mansfield Memorial Museum: Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · BibleWalk: JBTHEMILKER, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 within 15 miles of the center of Galion
About 3 of every 100 Galion residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Ohio.
4 places in Galion on the National Register of Historic Places.
12 notable people were born in Galion.
4 towns share a border with Galion.
| Town | OH rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galion | #653 | B− | B+ | B | B− | D |
| Polk Township | — | — | B+ | — | B− | C− |
| Jackson Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Crestline | #881 | C− | A− | — | C | D |
| North Bloomfield Township | — | — | A | — | B+ | C− |
Polk Township and North Bloomfield Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Polk Township, Crestline and North Bloomfield Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Jackson Township isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Galion with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Galion grades B− overall, better than 45% of U.S. towns and #653 of 987 in Ohio. It grades D for health, B for safety and B− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
12 notable people were born here, including John Loyer and Logan Bartholomew.
