The Town FilesGenoa, Illinois
City in DeKalb County · population 5,298 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,200
- Household income
- $82,128
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.7
Genoa is a city of 5,298 people in DeKalb County, Illinois. The median home is worth $225,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Illinois towns.
How Genoa ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Genoa is worth $225,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $82,128, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $940 a month. 68.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Genoa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $940 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,128 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Genoa
| People | Genoa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Genoa
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genoa since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 16, 1980 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 36,272 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,896 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Genoa itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Genoa
3 public schools with 1,162 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genoa-Kingston High School | 9-12 | 468 | 12.6 |
| Genoa-Kingston Middle School | 6-8 | 349 | 11.3 |
| Genoa Elementary School | 3-5 | 345 | 14.4 |
Towns near Genoa
- Sycamore, IL6.6 mi · 18,577 people · home $265,700
- Hampshire, IL9.9 mi · 7,667 people · home $329,800
- Cortland, IL10.6 mi · 4,398 people · home $233,200
- DeKalb, IL11.6 mi · 40,290 people · home $204,700
- Marengo, IL11.8 mi · 7,568 people · home $229,900
- Pingree Grove, IL13.5 mi · 10,365 people · home $320,800
- Huntley, IL14.1 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
- Belvidere, IL15.6 mi · 25,339 people · home $158,900
Genoa questions
Is Genoa, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Genoa scores better for retirees than 68% of Illinois towns and quieter than 50%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Genoa?
The median owner-occupied home in Genoa is valued at $225,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,128, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $940 a month.
What is the weather like in Genoa?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Genoa get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genoa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 16, 1980. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)