Joliet, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Waukegan is moderately more affordable than Joliet, with a 9.4% lower cost of living index. Joliet scores 94 compared to 86 for Waukegan, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Joliet can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Joliet is $1,237/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukegan is more affordable at $177,600 median vs $248,600.

Median household income in Joliet is $88,026 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+24.7%). While Joliet is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Joliet spend roughly 16.9% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 48.3°F). Waukegan receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 33.8" in Joliet.