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Living in
Geneva.
About
Life in Geneva
This western Chicago suburb sits comfortably between St. The median household income hovers around $144,000 and the median home price sits near $441,000, which means you're paying for stability and space, but it's not an outlier compared to similar communities in the Chicago corridor. The commute to downtown or job centers can run 28 minutes on average, though that varies wildly depending on where you're working; many residents make it work by either telecommuting or accepting the trade-off for a quieter base camp.
Geneva at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
97.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Geneva: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Geneva, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.9%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.3%
of households
Married Couples
62.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 39% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Geneva
In Geneva, rent runs 39% above the IL average, and home values are 68% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,951
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
85.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $551,416 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Geneva
Unemployment in Kane County, which includes Geneva, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Geneva: Kane County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kane County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Geneva is about 4% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Geneva Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.8 min avg
How Geneva residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Geneva, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Geneva runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
137.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
762.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Geneva Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kane County, which includes Geneva, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,500 |
| 2024 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $700,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Hail | $250,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kane County, county-wide
Geneva is about 4% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kane County, which includes Geneva, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
130
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Kane County, county-wide
Geneva is about 4% of Kane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Geneva has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.8"
Annual Snowfall
46.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.27" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 1.24" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 1.97" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 3.44" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 3.65" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.62" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.00" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 2.99" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.20" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 1.67" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Geneva
Geneva has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Northwestern Medicine Delnor Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Presence Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Aurora
Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Winfield
Elgin Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Elgin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Geneva
Geneva's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 63.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
63.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Geneva (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,974 students · in-state tuition $29,970 · 67% graduate · median earnings $64,180 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,428 students · in-state tuition $47,340 · 72% graduate · median earnings $65,646 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,121 students · in-state tuition $47,770 · 88% graduate · median earnings $68,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,942 students · in-state tuition $37,650 · 60% graduate · median earnings $67,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $31,810 · 50% graduate · median earnings $59,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Geneva
Geneva has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in Geneva
Geneva Public Library District
227 South Seventh Street, Geneva
Cities Near Geneva
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Geneva?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Geneva FAQ
Is Geneva, Illinois affordable?⌄
Geneva's median rent is $1,768/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $144,341/year. Median home value is $441,400.
Is Geneva, Illinois safe?⌄
Geneva's violent crime rate was 137 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 762 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Geneva, Illinois?⌄
Kane County, which includes Geneva, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Geneva, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Geneva is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,768/month and median household income is $144,341/year. The median home value is $441,400. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Geneva, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Geneva is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from