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Marengo vs Genoa

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

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Marengo, ILHomes around $366KIllinois · 7,040 people
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Genoa, ILAn outdoors townIllinois · 5,492 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.

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 →
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 →
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.

Marengo$2,620/mo
Typical home $366K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.28% · or rent about $1,176/mo · Housing →
Genoa$2,290/mo
Typical home $322K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.27% · or rent about $940/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
B+MarengoSafer than 65% of U.S. towns –GenoaNot graded
Health
B+MarengoHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns C+GenoaHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns
9Marengo
10Genoa

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

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

Left end = #1 in Illinois. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Marengo’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
MarengoGenoa
Snow a year31″39″
January low13°F—
July high84°F—
Growing season (days)166d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)25th42nd
Outdoors & history
MarengoGenoa
Trails2 mi4 mi
Conserved land4.9%3%
Settled18351876
National Register places2—
Archive photos—5
Community
MarengoGenoa
Library hours a week58 hrs44 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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.

MarengoGenoaMarengoGenoa
Marengo ↔ Genoa12 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.

MarengoGenoa
People
Population 7,040Highest 5,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1%Lowest +2%Highest
Median age 31.9±4.8Lowest 18% below IL 35.7±5.3Highest 8% 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 26%±5.9Highest IL: 21.8% 20.1%±5.1Lowest 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+ 17.2%±3.8Highest IL: 17% 14%±4Lowest 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+ 15.4%Lowest IL: 37.8% 15.9%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.2%±3Lowest IL: 6.3% 6.6%±2.9Highest 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 $73,523±$27kLowest 12% below IL $82,128±$23kHighest about the IL average
Genoa and Marengo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $229,900±$10kHighest 13% below IL $225,200±$15kLowest 14% 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 $1,176±$220Highest 8% below IL $940±$184Lowest 26% 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 $5,234Highest about the IL average $5,118Lowest 3% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 55.1%±20.5Highest IL: 47.9% 37.7%±26.3Lowest 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 15.7%Highest IL: 11.8% 11.9%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 63.1%Lowest IL: 67.1% 68.8%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 3 yrs newer than IL 1979Highest 8 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minLowest 8% above IL 33 minHighest 18% above IL
Work from home 8%±3.5Lowest IL: 15.9% 12.3%±8.4Highest 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 9.3%Highest 8.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.3 miHighest 20.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.55Highest 0.33Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Chicago (8%)Elgin (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in GenoaFew work in Marengo
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.9%Highest 3%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.1 miLowest 4.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 1.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 40.2Lowest 70.9Highest
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.

Marengo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Marengo’s Town Square.

Genoa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Genoa’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Marengo

R
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Riley

Towns like Marengo

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Marengo Township7,253 people · $235K homes
C
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Chemung Township9,051 people · $184K homes
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Posen5,292 people · $173K homes
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Harvard9,598 people · $175K homes
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.

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