City Comparison
Joliet vs Palatine
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Joliet scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Joliet
Palatine
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Joliet is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
12% lower than in Palatine.
Housing costs are a major driver: Joliet's average rent is
17% lower than Palatine's.
| Metric | Joliet | Palatine | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,450 | $1,750 | -17% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $115 | +13% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,375 | $2,690 | -12% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Palatine offers 12% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Joliet delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Joliet is estimated at
$52,000 vs $62,000 in Palatine.
| Metric | Joliet | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,500 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 74,457 idx | 69,643 idx |
| Household Income | $81,200 | $89,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Palatine sees 1.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Joliet | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.80°F | 50.30°F |
| Summer High | 82.60°F | 82.00°F |
| Winter Low | 17.70°F | 16.70°F |
| Rainfall | 36.10 in | 34.30 in |
| Snowfall | 26.30 in | 27.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | 252 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Palatine scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Palatine leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Joliet | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 31 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Joliet is the larger city
— approximately 2.2x the population of Palatine.
From a growth perspective, Joliet is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Palatine has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Joliet | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 150,362 | 67,908 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.60% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Joliet
Advantages
Median home prices and rent averages remain significantly more affordable than Chicago and its inner-ring suburbs.
Strategic geographic location at the intersection of I-80 and I-55 drives robust job opportunities in logistics and manufacturing.
Direct Metra commuter rail service on the Rock Island line provides convenient access to downtown Chicago.
Rich cultural and architectural assets, including the historic Rialto Square Theatre and extensive park district facilities.
Strong presence of higher education and healthcare institutions supporting local workforce development and medical access.
Drawbacks
Will County property taxes are among the highest in the nation, impacting overall homeownership costs.
Heavy freight and truck traffic on major regional corridors contributes to roadway wear and localized congestion.
High reliance on automobile transportation with limited public transit coverage outside of core commuter routes.
Crime rates vary significantly by neighborhood, with certain central areas experiencing elevated property and violent crime.
Air quality and environmental concerns occasionally arise due to heavy industrial activity and massive distribution warehouse operations.
Palatine
Advantages
Consistently low crime rates making it one of the safer suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area per police department reports.
Direct Metra commuter rail access providing efficient transit to downtown Chicago per Metra schedules.
Exceptional public school districts serving families with highly rated elementary, middle, and high schools per state education reports.
Extensive park district managing over 50 parks, golf courses, and the expansive Deer Grove forest preserve.
Vibrant downtown district featuring diverse dining, shopping, and community events per local chamber of commerce data.
Drawbacks
Higher-than-average property taxes characteristic of suburban Cook County per county assessor data.
Cost of living and housing expenses exceed the national average per Zillow and US Census Bureau figures.
Car dependency remains relatively high for daily errands outside of the immediate downtown transit core.
Winter weather brings heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures requiring active municipal snow removal.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major regional arteries like Route 53 and US-12.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Joliet
#215Illinois, USA
63.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$68,500
Cost Index
92
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
51.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
72
Business
75
Palatine
#277Illinois, USA
61.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
54.0/100
Sunny Days
252/yr
Avg Temp
50.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
84
Business
75
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