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Santiago Morris living

The good and bad of living in Joliet

Hey folks, My family moved here when I was a kid. It's a a mid-size city city with about 150K people. Average temperature is around 53°F, so expect cold winters. Homes are going for about $248,600 on average. Household incomes average around $88,026 in Joliet. Rent is about $1,237/month for a decent place. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.

Pros:
- Affordable cost of living
- Low crime in most areas
- Good healthcare facilities
- Active local events

Cons:
- Cold winters
- Boring for young people
- Homelessness issues downtown
Has anyone dealt with this? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The weather takes some getting used to.
46 upvotes

13 Replies

Jacob Taylor
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want community vibe, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
38 upvotes
emma_native
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Chicago it's average.
35 upvotes
Evan Turner
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a accountant who relocated here from Denver about 5 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and a fresh start.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Active local events and festivals
- Affordable housing options

Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Road conditions need improvement

Financially, we've found it average compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are wild, gas is tough.

Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
28 upvotes
vegas_ethan
thanks for sharing
28 upvotes
Riley Diaz
couldn't agree more
22 upvotes
Gabriel Phillips
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. public transit used to be much wild but now it's underrated.
21 upvotes
Dylan Alvarez
as a local I can confirm
21 upvotes
Carson Gomez
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is weather. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
20 upvotes
Grace C.
As someone who grew up here, the quality of life is solid. A lot has changed in the past few years though. housing market used to be much manageable but now it's decent.
16 upvotes
Kayden W.
as a local I can confirm
13 upvotes
Benjamin Alvarez
spot on
10 upvotes
Anna M.
I've lived in Lakewood for about 12 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.

it's improved dramatically in recent years. When I first moved here from Portland, I was surprised by cost of living. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.

A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Active local events and festivals
- The pet-friendliness scene is improving

The downsides:
- Limited high-paying job options
- Limited entertainment options

Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for families. Feel free to reach out with questions..
9 upvotes
Joseph
Moved here from Seattle about 7 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to safety but Would recommend to anyone considering it..
7 upvotes
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