What are the schools like in Geneseo, IL?

Geneseo is served primarily by Geneseo CUSD 228. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Geneseo?

The median household income in Geneseo, IL is $64,010 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Geneseo, IL?

Geneseo has an average high temperature of 30.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.4 inches.

Geneseo, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Geneseo, IL affordable or expensive?

Geneseo's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Geneseo is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $177,300 and the median rent is $919 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Geneseo, IL?

Geneseo has a violent crime rate of 92.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 858.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Geneseo, IL a Good Place to Live?

Geneseo is a small town of 6,421 in Illinois, with a median household income of $64,010 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Geneseo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Geneseo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Geneseo city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.3

Geneseo's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Geneseo costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Geneseo, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$177,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$919	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,010	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Geneseo's violent crime rate is 92.0 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.0 /100k

Property Crime

858.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Geneseo is served primarily by Geneseo CUSD 228. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Geneseo, IL	National Avg
School District	Geneseo CUSD 228	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Geneseo sees average highs of 30.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation and 28.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Geneseo, IL
Average High — January	30.8°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	39.1"
Annual Snowfall	28.4"

Demographics

Metric	Geneseo, IL	National Avg
Population	6,421	—
Median Age	46.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	27.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Joslin, IL 7 mi Atkinson, IL 8 mi Cleveland, IL 9 mi Colona, IL 9 mi Osco, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Geneseo

Geneseo, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61254

Geneseo vs Other Cities

Geneseo, IL vs Joslin, IL Geneseo, IL vs Atkinson, IL Geneseo, IL vs Cleveland, IL Geneseo, IL vs Colona, IL Geneseo, IL vs Osco, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Geneseo, IL affordable or expensive?

Geneseo's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Geneseo roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $177,300 and median rent is $919/month.

What is the crime rate in Geneseo, IL?

Geneseo's violent crime rate is 92.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 858.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Geneseo?

Public schools in Geneseo are operated by Geneseo CUSD 228. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Geneseo, IL a good place to live?

Geneseo, IL has a population of 6,421, a median household income of $64,010, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Geneseo?

Geneseo averages 30.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches with about 28.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Geneseo?

Geneseo, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61254.

What is the population of Geneseo?

The population of Geneseo, Illinois is 6,421 with a median age of 46.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Geneseo?

Key numbers for living in Geneseo: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $177,300, median household income $64,010, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Geneseo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.