Longtime lurker here, Been living here since 2015. Homes are going for about $248,600 on average. Household incomes average around $88,026 in Joliet. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Am I wrong here? Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable.
3 upvotes
7 Replies
Asher Taylor
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem challenging.
I've been here 8 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Lakewood side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
37 upvotes
Willow Wright
Weather-wise, the summers are solid and winters are reasonable. You get used to it after the first year.
27 upvotes
Asher Perez
underrated comment
25 upvotes
Sean H.
Moved here from Atlanta about 7 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to food scene but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
24 upvotes
Noah Parker
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is pricey right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: decent. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
No regrets on my end..
14 upvotes
Roman Ruiz
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great farm-to-table places. it's been a really good experience overall.
7 upvotes
Kaylee Evans
We moved here with our family and I have mixed feelings honestly. Schools in South area are tough. Kids love it here.
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