The Town FilesJoliet, Illinois
City in Will County · population 150,362 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $265,800
- Household income
- $92,201
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 71
- Median age
- 35.8
Joliet is a city of 150,362 people in Will County, Illinois. The median home is worth $265,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 87% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 79% of Illinois towns.
How Joliet ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Joliet is worth $265,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $92,201, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,276 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Joliet | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $265,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,276 | $960 |
| Median household income | $92,201 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Joliet
| People | Joliet | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Joliet
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joliet since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on August 28, 1990 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 33 deaths and 477 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 140 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on June 10, 2015.
Severe weather in Will County since 1996
Will County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Will County
Will County had 263,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,570 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Joliet itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Joliet
39 public schools with 20,758 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet West High School | 9-12 | 3,436 | 19.4 |
| Joliet Central High School | 9-12 | 3,383 | 18.5 |
| Hufford Junior High School | 6-8 | 1,095 | 13.9 |
| Aux Sable Middle Sch | 6-8 | 848 | 16.0 |
| Washington Jr High & Academy Prgm | 6-8 | 739 | 14.5 |
| Dirksen Junior High School | 6-8 | 655 | 14.2 |
| Sator Sanchez Elem School | K-5 | 631 | 14.3 |
| Lynne Thigpen Elem School | K-5 | 627 | 16.1 |
| Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch | K-5 | 613 | 13.9 |
| Pershing Elem School | K-5 | 606 | 20.2 |
| Farragut Elem School | K-5 | 592 | 17.9 |
| Gompers Junior High School | 6-8 | 590 | 9.7 |
Towns near Joliet
- Shorewood, IL3.5 mi · 18,186 people · home $337,800
- Preston Heights, IL3.8 mi · 2,898 people · home $144,100
- Crest Hill, IL4.4 mi · 20,459 people · home $232,900
- Ridgewood, IL5.5 mi · 2,956 people · home $161,300
- Ingalls Park, IL5.9 mi · 3,460 people · home $157,800
- Lockport, IL8.0 mi · 26,094 people · home $316,000
- Romeoville, IL8.0 mi · 39,863 people · home $257,100
- Minooka, IL8.1 mi · 12,758 people · home $315,600
Joliet questions
Is Joliet, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Joliet scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 8%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Joliet?
The median owner-occupied home in Joliet is valued at $265,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,201, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,276 a month.
What is the weather like in Joliet?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Joliet get tornadoes?
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joliet since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on August 28, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)