Westerville

Since a population boom in the 1990s, Genoa Township has grown both physically and socially. Situated 15 miles north of Columbus, it's close to Uptown Westerville and a stone's throw from Interstate 71. Hoover Reservoir to the east draws a dedicated waterfront crowd, and the community enjoys wide open outdoor spaces, whether they live in new subdivisions or grand properties on the Reservoir. "There's a wide range in Genoa Township, from custom brand-new homes to communities with empty nesters," Joe Janszen, broker and owner of Keller Williams Excel, says. He can see sailboats from his Genoa home on the shores of the Hoover Reservoir. "Your price range is going to be between $300,000 and $400,000 for most homes, but they can go all the way up to 2.5 million. A few homes down the street from me are in a $10 million to $15 million average price range, but that's a one-off for this area. Long driveways lead to colonial revivals and steep-gabled properties on mature lots in some parts of the Township, and contemporary Craftsman homes in new subdivisions occupy others. Large waterfront homes on the Hoover Reservoir join newly renovated condos in older buildings with close access to shopping centers in Westerville. Kids in Genoa filter into three different school districts, depending on where their homes fall on a map. The bottom swath forms part of the Westerville City School District, while Olentangy Local Schools and Big Walnut Schools split the less densely populated northern section. Those closer to Westerville start at either Alcott Elementary School or Fouse Elementary School, both earning an A-minus from Niche. Genoa Middle School sits right next to Fouse and earns a B-plus. Students finish strong at Westerville Central High School, which completed construction in 2003 to match the population boom in Genoa. The school receives an A-minus from Niche. With no public transit located nearby, Genoa Township is firmly car dependent. I-71 and I-270 sit adjacent to Genoa, taking residents to John Glenn Columbus International Airport in roughly 16 miles. Ohio State Route 3 also cuts through the Township, leading drivers to Uptown Westerville in about 5 miles. In case of an emergency, Mount Carmel St. Ann's sits about 7 miles south of Genoa. For groceries, locals choose between Meijer and Kroger in Westerville. The home of Otterbein University is also a promising commercial area for residents on the outskirts, with hidden gems like Grizzlybird Brewing Company combining food with live entertainment. "Uptown Westerville is a great community to walk around in," Janszen affirms. "And you're within 10 minutes in each direction of Easton Town Center and Polaris Fashion Place, two of the most popular malls in Ohio." Hoover Reservoir provides a calm setting for waterfront and waterborne recreation. "You can take boats with motors up to MC-9 onto the water," Janszen says, "although Hoover is more of a sailing lake or for kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing and that sort of thing." 29.7 acres of green space also breaks up the residential scenery. "McNamara Park is great—I walked my dog there last night!" Janszen laughs. "They have a playground, shelter houses, walking paths, and soccer fields." Residents look forward to Genoa Homecoming each summer. A Ferris wheel and other rides, games like Catch a Pig, and local live music set the scene for this community staple. Genoa Harvest Fest returns each autumn with craft vendors, street food, a pie contest and the presentation of the Hometown Hero award to a local community member. "Intel's coming to town," Janszen says, "and so are Facebook, Amazon, and Google, all within 12 to 15 minutes of where I am. When you can afford brand-new police and fire stations, you know that you're on an upward move. Genoa looks very different from even 20 to 25 years ago."