What are the schools like in Joliet, IL?

Joliet is served primarily by Joliet PSD 86. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Joliet?

The median household income in Joliet, IL is $84,971 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Joliet, IL?

Joliet has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Joliet, IL affordable or expensive?

Joliet's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Joliet is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $233,800 and the median rent is $1,174 per month.

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

Joliet has a violent crime rate of 350.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1244.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Joliet, IL a Good Place to Live?

Joliet is a mid-sized city of 150,221 in Illinois, with a median household income of $84,971 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Joliet stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Joliet 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

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

Metric	Joliet, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$233,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,174	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$84,971	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Joliet's violent crime rate is 350.0 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

350.0 /100k

Property Crime

1244.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Joliet is served primarily by Joliet PSD 86. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Joliet, IL	National Avg
School District	Joliet PSD 86	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Joliet sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 40.2 inches of annual precipitation and 16.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Joliet, IL
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	40.2"
Annual Snowfall	16.9"

Demographics

Metric	Joliet, IL	National Avg
Population	150,221	—
Median Age	34.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	57.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	17.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	19.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.5%	22.2%
65 and over	10.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rockdale, IL 2 mi Shorewood, IL 3 mi Crystal Lawns, IL 4 mi Sunnyland, IL 4 mi Preston Heights, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Joliet

Joliet, IL is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

60436 60431 60435 60586 60432 60433

Joliet vs Other Cities

Joliet, IL vs Rockdale, IL Joliet, IL vs Shorewood, IL Joliet, IL vs Crystal Lawns, IL Joliet, IL vs Sunnyland, IL Joliet, IL vs Preston Heights, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Joliet, IL affordable or expensive?

Joliet's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Joliet roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $233,800 and median rent is $1,174/month.

What is the crime rate in Joliet, IL?

Joliet's violent crime rate is 350.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1244.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Joliet?

Public schools in Joliet are operated by Joliet PSD 86. The district has 16 elementary, 5 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 24.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Joliet, IL a good place to live?

Joliet, IL has a population of 150,221, a median household income of $84,971, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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 Joliet?

Joliet averages 31.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.2 inches with about 16.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Joliet?

Joliet, IL is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 60436, 60431, 60435, 60586, 60432, 60433.

What is the population of Joliet?

The population of Joliet, Illinois is 150,221 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Joliet?

Key numbers for living in Joliet: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $233,800, median household income $84,971, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Joliet side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.