Compare towns

Genoa vs Marengo

12 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2× in Genoa) and street grid (+76% in Genoa).

Genoa, ILAn outdoors townIllinois · 5,492 people

Marengo, ILHomes around $366KIllinois · 7,040 people

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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

GenoaAn outdoors town

Outdoors#38 most trails in IL4.3 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves Housing$322K typical home8% above the IL typical home All about Genoa →

MarengoHomes around $366K

Housing$366K typical home23% above the IL typical home

Outdoors#334 most conserved land in IL2.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 68%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Marengo →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails2×

Genoa has more miles of trail

Genoa 4.3 miMarengo 2.1 mi

Street grid+76%

Genoa has the more walkable street grid

Genoa 70.9Marengo 40.2

Jobs per worker+67%

Marengo is more of a job hub

Marengo 0.55Genoa 0.33

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $320 more a month in Marengo

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Genoa$2,290/mo

Typical home $322K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.27% · or rent about $940/mo · Housing →

Marengo$2,620/mo

Typical home $366K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.28% · or rent about $1,176/mo · Housing →

The difference: $320 a month, about $3,900 a year, between Marengo and Genoa.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Genoa places higher on 10 of 20 IL lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Illinois ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

–GenoaNot graded B+MarengoSafer than 65% of U.S. towns

Health

C+GenoaHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns B+MarengoHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns

10Genoa

9Marengo

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most trailsOutdoors · 665 towns #38#441 Fewest smokersHealth · 861 towns #637#359 Most remote workersWork · 849 towns #332#582 Lowest obesityHealth · 861 towns #481#233 Most walkableOutdoors · 862 towns #282#505 Lowest depressionHealth · 861 towns #775#565 HealthiestHealth · 861 towns #587#387 Cheapest rentCost of living · 840 towns #307#486

Left end = #1 in Illinois. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Genoa’s rankings →

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

GenoaMarengo

Snow a year39″31″

January low—13°F

July high—84°F

Growing season (days)—166d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)42nd 25th

Outdoors & history

GenoaMarengo

Trails4 mi 2 mi

Conserved land3%4.9%

Settled1876 1835

National Register places—2

Archive photos5 —

Community

GenoaMarengo

Library hours a week44 hrs 58 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

12 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GenoaMarengo

Genoa ↔ Marengo12 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Illinois average

GenoaMarengo

People

Population 5,492Lowest 7,040Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2%Highest -1%Lowest

Median age 35.7±5.3Highest 8% below IL 31.9±4.8Lowest 18% below IL

Genoa and Marengo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 20.1%±5.1Lowest IL: 21.8% 26%±5.9Highest IL: 21.8%

Marengo and Genoa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 14%±4Lowest IL: 17% 17.2%±3.8Highest IL: 17%

Marengo and Genoa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.9%Highest IL: 37.8% 15.4%Lowest IL: 37.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.6%±2.9Highest IL: 6.3% 6.2%±3Lowest IL: 6.3%

Genoa and Marengo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $82,128±$23kHighest about the IL average $73,523±$27kLowest 12% below IL

Genoa and Marengo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $225,200±$15kLowest 14% below IL $229,900±$10kHighest 13% below IL

Marengo and Genoa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $940±$184Lowest 26% below IL $1,176±$220Highest 8% below IL

Marengo and Genoa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $5,118Lowest 3% below IL $5,234Highest about the IL average

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37.7%±26.3Lowest IL: 47.9% 55.1%±20.5Highest IL: 47.9%

Marengo and Genoa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 11.9%Lowest IL: 11.8% 15.7%Highest IL: 11.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 68.8%Highest IL: 67.1% 63.1%Lowest IL: 67.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 8 yrs newer than IL 1974Lowest 3 yrs newer than IL

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 18% above IL 30 minLowest 8% above IL

Work from home 12.3%±8.4Highest IL: 15.9% 8%±3.5Lowest IL: 15.9%

Genoa and Marengo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 8.8%Lowest 9.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.8 miLowest 25.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 0.55Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Elgin (9%)Chicago (8%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MarengoFew work in Genoa

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 3%Lowest 4.9%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 4.3 miHighest 2.1 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.7 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 3Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 70.9Highest 40.2Lowest

Illinois average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Genoa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Genoa’s Town Square.

Marengo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Marengo’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Genoa

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Genoa Township5,606 people · $243K homes

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Kingston Township3,464 people · $269K homes

Towns like Genoa

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Illinois towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Genoa vs Marengo

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

A typical home costs $320 more a month in Marengo

Genoa places higher on 10 of 20 IL lists

What daily life feels like in each

12 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Genoa and Marengo

Bordering Genoa

Towns like Genoa

Post to Genoa

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