Moving to Joliet Guide 2025 : Demographics, Cost of living, Job, Taxes

Is moving to Joliet Illinois right for you?

If you’d like to live in a city with low violent crime rates and affordable homes, moving to Joliet is right for you.

Rated as one of the best places to live in Illinois, Joliet’s millennial population, sunny weather, and family-friendly atmosphere make it one of Illinois’s most coveted places.

If you’re mulling over moving to Joliet and yet to decide if the city is right for you or not, this guide contains key information you need to make the right decision.

Let’s jump right in!

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Quick facts to know about moving to Joliet, IL

Learn some facts about Phoenix, AZ before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

The average cost of living in Joliet is lower than the national average
Joliet’s property and violent crime rates are lower than the national average
The average costs of homes in Joliet are lower than the national average
Joliet gets 186 sunny days per year on average
More than 70% of Joliet residents are homeowners

What’s the population of Joliet, IL Population

Joliet is home to 146,572 people and the city spreads across 65 miles. Moving to Joliet means living in the 4th largest city in Illinois. Here are key stats about the city’s population:

The city’s population is presently declining at a rate of -0.26%
Joliet has a population density of 2,285 people per square mile
The median age in Joliet is 33.8 years
The average age of males is 33.3 years, and 34.6 years for females

How fast can you commute in Joliet, IL?

Joliet’s average one-way commute time takes 30.6 minutes. The national average is 26.4 minutes. That means the average commuting time in Joliet, IL is slower than the U.S. average. Since you’re mulling over moving to Joliet, here’s how the city’s residents commute to work:

Around 84.6% of Joliet residents drive their own car alone
About 7.8% of Joliet residents carpool with others
Up to 3.0% of Joliet residents work from home
Around 2.2% of Joliet residents take mass transit

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How is the weather like in Joliet, IL?

If you move to Joliet, you’ll experience 186 sunny days per year in the city. The city’s warm weather is one of the key reasons that make moving to Joliet such a great idea. Here are key stats about the city’s weather:

On average, Joliet gets 39 inches of rain per year. The national average is 38 inches
Joliet gets 28 inches of snow a year. The national average is the same
Joliet averages 186 sunny days per year. The national average is 205 sunny days
On average, Joliet gets 39 inches of rain per year
Joliet’s summer high in July is around 84 degrees
Joliet’s winter low in January is around 16 degrees

Top 10 reasons to move to Joliet, IL

Joliet is one of the best places to live in Illinois and it’s the fourth largest city in the state.

Joliet has a remarkable weather
Joliet has a family-friendly atmosphere
Thriving downtown district
Joliet is rich in history
There’s always somewhere to take the kids in Joliet
You’ll enjoy fresh supplies from the farmers’ market
The cost of living in Joliet is lower than the U.S. average
Violent and property crime rates are lower than the U.S. average
Joliet is a city of musical champions
The Rialto Theater is an exceptional theater

Pros & Cons of Living in Joliet, IL

You can easily figure out if moving to Joliet, IL is right for you or not by considering the pros and cons of living in the city.

To make it easier, we’ve made a list of the key pros and cons of living in Joliet, Illinois. Check out the list below:

Pros of living in Joliet

Joliet is one of the most livable cities in Illinois
The cost of living in Joliet, IL is reasonably low
Joliet is spacious and not overcrowded
Property and violent crime rates in Joliet are lower than the U.S. average
Joliet roads are safe
Access to top-quality education
Fast internet
Good air quality
Joliet is a business-friendly city
Home to several top-quality hospitals
Joliet is a family-friendly city
Joliet is friendly to LGBTQ+

Cons of living in Joliet

Joliet can be very cold in winter
You may not find many things to do to have fun
You may need a car to get around
Joliet’s job market is currently on a downturn
Meeting new people and making new friends may be difficult
Few cafes, restaurants, and places to relax and have fun
Food can be expensive

Best places to live in Joliet, IL

Joliet is home to several beautiful and livable neighborhoods for families, individuals, and retirees. Since you’re considering moving to Joliet, we’ve made a list of the best places to live in the city.

You can use this list to streamline your house-hunting efforts while searching for the best places to live in Joliet, Illinois.

Rank	Neighborhood	Population	Median Income
1	Western Springs, IL	13,272	$174,760
2	La Grange, IL	15,545	$123,965
3	Hinsdale, IL	17,710	$203,368
4	Winfield, IL	9,700	$113,583
5	Elmhurst, IL	46,463	$118,609
6	Clarendon Hills, IL	8,716	$111,958
7	Burr Ridge, IL	10,763	$159,335
8	Naperville, IL	147,501	$125,926
9	Glen Ellyn, IL	27,855	$110,678
10	La Grange Park, IL	13,395	$105,783

Cost of living in Joliet, IL

The cost of living in Joliet is 84.5. The national average is 100.

That means the average cost of living in Joliet is lower than the national average. Since you’re considering moving to Joliet, here’s a simple breakdown of the city’s cost of living:

Cost of living	Joliet	Illinois	United States
Overall	84.5	93.4	100
Grocery	95.5	94	100
Health	98.2	97.2	100
Housing	61.9	79.5	100
Median Home Cost	$143,000	$183,700	$231,200
Utilities	97.8	97.7	100
Transportation	94.1	106.2	100
Miscellaneous	91.3	98.1	100

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How is the job market in Joliet, IL?

If you’re interested in getting a job after moving to Joliet, how soon can you get one?

Check out the following key stats about the city’s job market:

Joliet’s unemployment rate is 9.4%. The national average is 6.0%
The city’s job growth has been negative so far
Joliet’s future job growth is expected to hit 26.30%
The number of jobs in Joliet has decreased by 0.2% over the past year

Employment Information	Joliet, Illinois	United States
The income per Cap	$25,812	$31,177
Household Income	$63,359	$57,652
Unemployment Rate	9.4	6.0%
Recent Job Growth	-9.50%	-6.18%
Future Job Growth	26.30%	33.51%

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Top 10 highest-paying jobs in Joliet, IL

If you’re interested in changing your job after moving to Joliet, we’ve made a list of the top ten highest-paying jobs in the city. Check out the list below:

Rank	Job Title	Average Salary	Entry Level Salary	# Of People
1	General Internal Medicine Physicians	$205,590	$58,860	1,770
2	Other Specialists Dentists	$201,880	$78,800	170
3	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	$198,430	$92,090	780
4	Family Medicine Physicians	$195,300	$99,090	8,030
5	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$195,020	$88,460	6,780
6	Nurse Anesthetists	$181,090	$90,050	1,060
7	General Dentists	$175,420	$86,020	2,960
8	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$195,020	$88,460	6,780
9	General Pediatricians	$171,970	$85,700	680
10	Petroleum Engineers	$170,740	$99,830	80

What’s the median salary in Joliet, IL?

If you’re interested in getting a job after moving to Joliet, IL, or perhaps launching your own business, here’s a breakdown of the city’s median salary:

The average annual pay for the average job in Joliet is $72,390
The average hourly pay for the average job in Joliet is $34.80 an hour
The average weekly pay for the average job in Joliet is $1,392 per week
The average monthly pay for the average job in Joliet, IL is $6,032 per month
Joliet’s minimum wage is $11 per hour

Joliet’s housing market info

If you’re interested in buying a home after making up your mind about moving to Joliet, we’ve collated key stats about the city’s housing market. Check out the stats below:

Joliet’s median home cost is $143,000
Over the last ten years, home appreciation in the city has been 3.6%
Home value in Joliet is presently up by 3.3%
More than 70% of Joliet’s population are homeowners
Up to 1.8% of homes and apartments in Joliet are available to rent

Median home rental cost in Joliet, IL

If you’re interested in renting a home or an apartment after moving to Joliet Illinois, here’s a breakdown of the average cost of renting various room sizes in the city:

The average cost of a studio apartment in Joliet, IL is $1,090
The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in Joliet, IL is $1,227
The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in Joliet, IL is $1,443
The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in Joliet, IL is $1,863
The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in Joliet, IL is $2,223

Joliet tax info

How much will you be paying in taxes if you move to Joliet, IL?

If you’re moving to Joliet from out of state, taxes could be one of the key reasons you’ll have to consider. Here’s a simple breakdown of the city’s taxes:

Joliet income tax rate is 4.95% flat rate
Sales tax: 6.25% - 11%
Property tax: 2.16% average effective rate
Gas tax: 38.7 cents per gallon of regular gasoline, 46.2 cents per gallon of diesel

Best things to do in Joliet, IL?

Joliet is not a boring city. There are tons of remarkable and exciting things you can do to have fun in Joliet.

We’ve made a list of some of the best things to do in the city to make it easier for you to come up with a bucket list.

Visit Joliet Veteran's Memorial Bicentennial Park
Watch a baseball game at Joliet Route 66 Stadium
Explore the Joliet Area Historical Museum
Check out murals by local artists at Friends of Community Public Art
Try your luck at Hollywood Casino Joliet
Admire the splendid architecture of Jacob Henry Mansion Estate
Catch a performance at Rialto Square Theatre
Shop till you drop at Westfield Louis Joliet Mall
Tee off at the Inwood Golf Course
Enjoy biking in Pilcher Park
Admire plants at Bird Haven Greenhouse & Conservatory
Enjoy a fun-filled day at Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center
Take a tour of Old Joliet Prison

How safe is Joliet, IL?

Crime rates are often on the radar of anyone mulling over moving to a new city. Phoenix, AZ has a crime rate of 42 per 1000 residents.

If you’re moving to Joliet, Illinois, you’ll most likely be interested in the city’s crime rate. Generally, both violent and property crime rates in Joliet are lower than the national average, making it a suitable city for families, and everyone else.

Here’s a breakdown of the city’s crime rates if you’re moving to Joliet, IL:

The violent crime rate in Joliet, IL is 16.3. The national average is 22.7
The property crime rate in Joliet, IL is 31.4. The national average is 35.4
Each year, residents have a 1 in 197.3 chance of being a victim of crime in the city
Each year, residents have a 1 in 68.6 chance of being the victim of property crime

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Statistic	Count Raw	Joliet/ 100k People	Illinois/ 100k People	National/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K	2,911	1,964.8	2,253.4	2,476.7
Murder	18	12.1	6.6	5.0
Robbery	99	66.8	98.4	81.6
Aggravated Assault	581	392.2	254.0	250.2
Violent Crime	751	506.9	406.9	366.7
Burglary	256	172.8	271.7	340.5
Larceny	1,736	1,171.7	1,426.6	1,549.5
Car Theft	168	113.4	148.2	219.9
Property Crime	2,160	1,457.9	1,846.5	2,109.9

Best Schools & Universities in Joliet, IL

If you decide to move to Joliet, IL, you’ll get the chance to have access to some of the best schools in the city.

We’ve made a list of the best schools in Joliet to make it easier for you to choose the right option. Check out the list below since you’re considering moving to Joliet, IL:

Best Elementary Schools in Joliet

Eisenhower Academy
Joliet Public School District 86, Public, 1-5 | 242 students, Rating: 10/10
Troy Craughwell School
Troy Central Consolidated School District 30C, Public, PK-4 | 466 students, Rating: 10/10
Union Elementary School
Union School District 81, Public, K-8 | 103 students, Rating: 10/10
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Plainfield School District 202, Public, K-5 | 639 students, Rating: 10/10
Troy Heritage Trail School
Troy Central Consolidated School District 30C, Public, PK-4 | 419 students, Rating: 10/10

Best Middle Schools in Joliet

Union Elementary School
Union School District 81, Public, K-8 | 103 students, Rating: 10/10
Aux Sable Middle School
Plainfield School District 202, Public, 6-8 | 972 students, Rating: 10/10
Gompers Junior High School
Joliet Public School District 86, Public, 6-8 | 956 students, Rating: 10/10
Hufford Junior High School
Joliet Public School District 86, Public, 6-8 | 1185 students, Rating: 10/10
Washington Jr High & Academy Program
Joliet Public School District 86, Public, 6-8 | 798 students, Rating: 10/10

Best High Schools in Joliet

Joliet West High School
401 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet, IL, 60435, Public district, 9-12|3,350 students, Rating: 10/10
Joliet Central High School
201 East Jefferson Street, Public district, 9-12|3,339 students, Rating: 10/10
Lincoln School ALOP
960 Royce Avenue, Joliet, IL, 60432, Public district, 12|4 students, Rating: 10/10
Guardian Angel Community Services
1550 Plainfield Road, Joliet, IL, 60435, Private, Ungraded, Rating: 10/10
Guardian Angel - Intensive
1550 Plainfield Road, Joliet, IL, 60435, Private, Ungraded, Rating: 10/10