What are the schools like in Marengo, IL?

Marengo is served primarily by Marengo-Union E Cons D 165. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Marengo?

The median household income in Marengo, IL is $71,196 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.1%.

What is the weather like in Marengo, IL?

Marengo has an average high temperature of 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Marengo, IL affordable or expensive?

Marengo's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marengo is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $188,500 and the median rent is $992 per month.

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

Marengo has a violent crime rate of 131.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 577.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marengo, IL a Good Place to Live?

Marengo is a small town of 7,471 in Illinois, with a median household income of $71,196 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Marengo stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Marengo 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: 102.6

Marengo's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marengo costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Marengo, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$188,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$992	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,196	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Marengo's violent crime rate is 131.1 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

131.1 /100k

Property Crime

577.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Marengo is served primarily by Marengo-Union E Cons D 165. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marengo, IL	National Avg
School District	Marengo-Union E Cons D 165	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marengo sees average highs of 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 37.6 inches of annual precipitation and 30.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marengo, IL
Average High — January	29.2°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.6"
Annual Snowfall	30.8"

Demographics

Metric	Marengo, IL	National Avg
Population	7,471	—
Median Age	31.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	14.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Coral, IL 3 mi Union, IL 3 mi Riley, IL 4 mi Franklinville, IL 5 mi Garden Prairie, IL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Marengo

Marengo, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60152

Marengo vs Other Cities

Marengo, IL vs Coral, IL Marengo, IL vs Union, IL Marengo, IL vs Riley, IL Marengo, IL vs Franklinville, IL Marengo, IL vs Garden Prairie, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marengo, IL affordable or expensive?

Marengo's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Marengo roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $188,500 and median rent is $992/month.

What is the crime rate in Marengo, IL?

Marengo's violent crime rate is 131.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 577.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Marengo?

Public schools in Marengo are operated by Marengo-Union E Cons D 165. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marengo, IL a good place to live?

Marengo, IL has a population of 7,471, a median household income of $71,196, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%. 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 Marengo?

Marengo averages 29.2°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.6 inches with about 30.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marengo?

Marengo, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60152.

What is the population of Marengo?

The population of Marengo, Illinois is 7,471 with a median age of 31.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Marengo?

Key numbers for living in Marengo: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $188,500, median household income $71,196, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marengo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.