Living in Joliet, Illinois: A City Guide
Joliet is the Will County seat, a city in Will and Kendall counties where Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway cross downtown at Cass and Chicago Streets.
Joliet, Illinois: At a Glance
Compiled October 2026 from the sources printed under each figure.
About Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will County and Kendall County, Illinois, and the county seat of Will County. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate counts 152,241 people on July 1, 2025, across both county portions. Joliet incorporated as a city in 1852, and Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway cross at Cass and Chicago Streets downtown.
The city spans townships in both counties, from Joliet, Plainfield and Troy townships in Will County to Na-Au-Say and Seward townships in Kendall County. Joliet addresses use ZIP codes 60431, 60432, 60433, 60435, 60436 and 60586, among others. Interstate 80 passes through Joliet, and IDOT’s I-80 project lists work at the Chicago Street and Center Street interchanges.
| Counties | Will County and Kendall County |
|---|---|
| ZIP codes | 60431, 60432, 60433, 60435 and 60436, as printed on public addresses. The City’s address map adds 60586 (mailing city Plainfield), 60451 (New Lenox), 60421 (Elwood), 60441 (Lockport) and others |
| Townships | Joliet, Plainfield, Troy, New Lenox, Jackson, Channahon and Lockport (Will County); Na-Au-Say and Seward (Kendall County) |
| School districts | Joliet Public Schools District 86 and Joliet Township High School District 204, with parts of other districts by address |
| Interstates and routes | Interstate 80; Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway; Route 53 (Scott Street); Route 6 (Eames Street) |
| Metra | Joliet station, on the Rock Island and Heritage Corridor lines, at the Joliet Gateway Center, 90 E. Jefferson St. |
| Incorporated | As a city, 1852 |
| Principal employers | Amazon (fulfillment center), Ascension St. Joseph (hospital) and Will County, from the principal employers table in the City’s financial report for fiscal year 2025 |
Joliet Neighborhoods and Areas
The named areas below come from the City of Joliet and the National Park Service. The City recognizes the Cathedral Area by name, and the Upper Bluff, Joliet East Side and Downtown Joliet historic districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Comparing Joliet with other Will County towns? Read Joliet or Another Will County Community? How to Narrow Your Home Search.
A National Register listing alone does not bring the City’s local design guidelines, which apply in local historic districts. Exterior work on a local landmark needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a building permit application.
In the City’s thematic historic districts, including Bungalow, Colonial Revival, Catalog and Vernacular, exterior improvements, alterations or demolition also go to the Commission for review. Whitney Terrace is a local historic district, designated in 2006, according to the City’s historic property records.
Types of Homes in Joliet, IL
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024 count 53,814 housing units in Joliet city, across both county portions. Their median year built is 1985, against 1971 for Illinois. Each count below is a survey estimate, printed by the Census Bureau with a margin of error.
For buyers: Moving to Joliet, Illinois: What Buyers Should Consider Before Choosing a Home.
Schools Serving Joliet, IL
In federal school district boundary files for 2024 to 2025, Joliet Township High School District 204 and Joliet Public Schools District 86 cover the most land inside the city at their grade levels. Other district boundaries also reach into Joliet, so the district depends on the address.
In the 2024 to 2025 school year, District 86 enrolled 9,295 students and District 204 enrolled 6,621, each counted districtwide. District 204’s Joliet Central High School enrolled 3,248 and Joliet West High School 3,291 that year.
| District | District type (Illinois Report Card) | Schools in the table below |
|---|---|---|
| Joliet PSD 86 | Elementary | 20 |
| Joliet Twp HSD 204 | High school | 3 |
| Plainfield SD 202 | Unit | 4 |
| Troy CCSD 30C | Elementary | 2 |
| Laraway CCSD 70C | Elementary | 1 |
| Union SD 81 | Elementary | 1 |
| Minooka CCSD 201 | Elementary | 1 |
| Minooka CHSD 111 | High school | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Oswego CUSD 308 | Unit | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Elwood CCSD 203 | Elementary | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| New Lenox SD 122 | Elementary | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Lincoln-Way CHSD 210 | High school | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Manhattan SD 114 | Elementary | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Yorkville CUSD 115 | Unit | None with a Joliet mailing address |
| Rockdale SD 84 | Elementary | None with a Joliet mailing address |
District list source: federal school district boundary files for 2024 to 2025; district types from the 2025 Illinois Report Card.
The table below lists the schools with a Joliet mailing address in the state’s 2025 to 2026 directory, grouped by district.
| District | School | Grades | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Twp HSD 204 | Joliet Central High School | 9 to 12 | 201 E Jefferson St, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet Twp HSD 204 | Joliet West High School | 9 to 12 | 401 N Larkin Ave, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet Twp HSD 204 | Pathways Academy | 9 to 12 | 110 Collins St, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Dirksen Junior High School | 6 to 8 | 203 S Midland Ave, Joliet 60436 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Gompers Junior High School | 6 to 8 | 1501 Copperfield Ave, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Hufford Junior High School | 6 to 8 | 1125 N Larkin Ave, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Washington Junior High and Academy Program | 6 to 8 | 402 Richards St, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | T E Culbertson Elementary School | K to 5 | 1521 E Washington St, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | M J Cunningham Elementary School | K to 5 | 500 Moran St, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Eisenhower Academy | 1 to 5 | 406 Burke Dr, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Farragut Elementary School | K to 5 | 701 Glenwood Ave, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Forest Park Individual Ed School | K to 5 | 1220 California Ave, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Thomas Jefferson Elementary School | K to 5 | 2651 Glenwood Ave, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Edna Keith Elementary School | K to 5 | 400 4th Ave, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Carl Sandburg Elementary | K to 5 | 1100 Lilac Ln, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Pershing Elementary School | K to 5 | 251 N Midland Ave, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Taft Elementary School | K to 5 | 1125 Oregon St, Joliet 60435 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Woodland Elementary School | K to 5 | 701 3rd Ave, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Sator Sanchez Elementary School | K to 5 | 1101 Harrison Ave, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Lynne Thigpen Elementary School | K to 5 | 207 S Midland Ave, Joliet 60436 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Isaac Singleton Elementary School | K to 5 | 1451 Copperfield Ave, Joliet 60432 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Thompson Instructional Center | K to 8 | 1020 Rowell Ave, Joliet 60433 |
| Joliet PSD 86 | Marycrest Early Childhood Center | Pre-K | 303 Purdue Ct, Joliet 60436 |
| Plainfield SD 202 | Aux Sable Middle School | 6 to 8 | 2001 Wildspring Pkwy, Joliet 60431 |
| Plainfield SD 202 | Crystal Lawns Elementary School | K to 5 | 2544 Crystal Dr, Joliet 60435 |
| Plainfield SD 202 | Grand Prairie Elementary School | K to 5 | 3100 Caton Farm Rd, Joliet 60431 |
| Plainfield SD 202 | Thomas Jefferson Elementary School | K to 5 | 1900 Oxford Way, Joliet 60431 |
| Troy CCSD 30C | Troy Craughwell School | K to 4 | 3333 Black Rd, Joliet 60431 |
| Troy CCSD 30C | Troy Heritage Trail School | K to 4 | 3389 Longford Dr, Joliet 60431 |
| Laraway CCSD 70C | Laraway School | Pre-K to 8 | 1715 Rowell Ave, Joliet 60433 |
| Union SD 81 | Union Elementary School | K to 8 | 1661 Cherry Hill Rd, Joliet 60433 |
| Minooka CCSD 201 | Jones Elementary School | K to 4 | 800 Barberry Way, Joliet 60431 |
Assignment depends on the exact address, so confirm the assigned schools with the district before relying on this table. A Joliet mailing address does not show which school serves a given house.
Where to Eat in Joliet, IL
Three of the six places below have North Chicago Street addresses, and the other three are on Bridge Street, West Jefferson Street and Essington Road.
CUT 158 Chophouse
A steakhouse with a wine list and cocktails at 110 N. Chicago St.
Juliet's Tavern
American comfort food and cocktails at 205 N. Chicago St.
Richardson's
Burgers, wings, salads and sandwiches at 81 N. Chicago St.
Shopping and Everyday Essentials in Joliet
Jewel-Osco, West Jefferson Street
A Jewel-Osco grocery with a pharmacy at 1401 W. Jefferson St.
Jewel-Osco, North Larkin Avenue
A Jewel-Osco grocery with a pharmacy at 1537 N. Larkin Ave.
Walmart Supercenter
A Walmart Supercenter with grocery and a pharmacy at 2424 W. Jefferson St.
The Home Depot
A Home Depot home improvement store at 3001 Plainfield Rd.
Transportation and Commute from Joliet
Joliet station, in the Joliet Gateway Center at 90 E. Jefferson St., is served by the Metra Rock Island and Heritage Corridor lines. Pace’s Joliet Transit Center, part of the Gateway Center, opened for passenger service on December 6, 2021, and lists ten Pace routes.
The City lists the Gateway Center as a stop on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service routes. By road, Interstate 80 passes through Joliet, and IDOT’s I-80 project lists work at the Chicago Street and Center Street interchanges.
| Destination | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaSalle Street station, downtown Chicago | Metra Rock Island from Joliet station, weekday inbound trains 700, 702 and 704 | 60 minutes; train 700 leaves at 6:30 a.m. and arrives at 7:30 a.m. | Metra published schedule data as of October 2, 2026 |
| Chicago Union Station | Metra Heritage Corridor from Joliet station, weekday inbound trains 914, 916 and 918 | 67 minutes; train 914 leaves at 5:45 a.m. and arrives at 6:52 a.m. | Metra published schedule data as of October 2, 2026 |
Metra revises its schedules, so check its current timetable before travel.
Things to Do in Joliet, IL
Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway cross at Cass and Chicago Streets in downtown Joliet, and both are National Scenic Byways. The Forest Preserve District of Will County lists Rock Run, Rock Run Rookery, Lower Rock Run, Colvin Grove, Teale Woods, Sugar Creek and Hadley Valley among its preserves with Joliet locations.
The Joliet Park District, established by election on July 5, 1922, runs Pilcher Park Nature Center, Bird Haven Greenhouse, Nowell Park Recreation Center and the Inwood and Woodruff golf courses. Joliet Public Library has an Ottawa Street Branch at 150 N. Ottawa St. and a Black Road Branch at 3395 Black Road.
Joliet Iron Works Historic Site and the I&M Canal Trail
This 52-acre Forest Preserve District site is on Columbia Street, east of Route 53 (Scott Street). Before the district acquired it, the land held an iron manufacturing facility that operated from the late 1800s into the early 1900s.
From the site, the I&M Canal Trail runs 7.57 miles north through Lockport to Romeoville.
Pilcher Park Nature Center
The Joliet Park District’s nature center is at 2501 Highland Park Dr. The district describes over 640 acres of land there, with hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails, playgrounds and picnic grounds.
Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory, at 225 N. Gougar Rd., is a Lord and Burnham greenhouse on three acres within the Pilcher Park and Higginbotham Woods site. It holds seasonal floral shows, a tropical house, a cacti room and a show house.
Rialto Square Theatre
The Rialto Square Theatre stands at 102 N. Chicago St. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under a 1978 National Park Service record, which gives 1926 as its significant year and C.W. and George Rapp as its architects.
Joliet Area Historical Museum
The museum is at 204 N. Ottawa Street, in the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church at Cass and Ottawa Streets, and it opened in fall 2002.
It also stewards the Joliet Railroad Museum in the Joliet Gateway Center and the Martin and Emma Planinsek Grocery and Meat Market Museum at 1314 Elizabeth Street.
Old Joliet Prison Historic Site
The Joliet Area Historical Museum operates the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site at 1125 Collins St. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 2023, as the Illinois State Penitentiary-Joliet Historic District.
City Square
City Square sits at Clinton and Chicago Streets, across from the Rialto Square Theatre along historic Route 66, with a main performance stage and a central green. The City scheduled its construction in phases across 2024, 2025 and 2026, and lists programs including Sounds on 66, Wellness Workouts and Dancing in the Square.
Joliet Housing Market
Live MLS figures for Joliet: sold listings, the average sale price and average days on market for the last 30 days, compared with the 30 days before. The chart shows the average sold price by month for the last 12 months.
For the county-wide picture, the Will County market snapshot covers Will County as a whole. For owners: What Is Your Joliet Home Really Worth? 7 Factors That Affect Market Value, How to Prepare Your Joliet Home for Sale Without Renovating Everything and a home valuation request.
Joliet: listings, area overview and market data
Frequently Asked Questions About Joliet
What is it like to live in Joliet, Illinois?
Joliet is the Will County seat and a city of 152,241 people in Will County and Kendall County, by the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate for July 1, 2025. One-unit detached structures hold 37,403 of its 53,814 housing units in the Census Bureau’s ACS 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024, with a median year built of 1985.
City Square sits across from the Rialto Square Theatre, and the Joliet Gateway Center in downtown Joliet is a Pace, Metra and Amtrak station. The Joliet Park District runs Pilcher Park Nature Center, and the Forest Preserve District of Will County lists several preserves in Joliet.
What do homes in Joliet cost?
The Census Bureau’s ACS 5-year estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median value of owner-occupied housing in Joliet city at $265,800, against $263,300 for Illinois. That is a five-year survey estimate, not a recent sale price. Current listings are on the Joliet listings page of this site, and market data is on the Joliet market page.
Which areas and ZIP codes make up Joliet?
Public offices, schools and parks in Joliet print the ZIP codes 60431, 60432, 60433, 60435 and 60436 on their addresses. Joliet addresses also use other ZIP codes on the City’s address map, including 60586, whose mailing city is Plainfield.
The City names the Cathedral Area as a recognized neighborhood, and the Upper Bluff, Joliet East Side and Downtown Joliet historic districts are on the National Register of Historic Places.
How long is the trip from Joliet to downtown Chicago?
Joliet station is served by the Metra Rock Island and Heritage Corridor lines. Weekday morning Rock Island trains 700, 702 and 704 are scheduled at 60 minutes from Joliet to LaSalle Street, and Heritage Corridor trains 914, 916 and 918 at 67 minutes to Chicago Union Station.
Those times come from Metra’s published schedule data as of October 2, 2026, and Metra revises its schedules, so check the current timetable.
Which school districts serve Joliet addresses?
In federal boundary files for 2024 to 2025, Joliet Public Schools District 86 and Joliet Township High School District 204 cover the most land inside the city at their grade levels. Assignment depends on the exact address, so confirm it with the district.
Other district boundaries also reach into Joliet, among them Plainfield School District 202, Troy Community Consolidated School District 30C, Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70C and Minooka Community High School District 111.
Is every Joliet address in Will County?
No. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates place 137,691 of the city’s 152,241 people in the Will County portion and 14,550 in the Kendall County portion. The Kendall County portion lies in Na-Au-Say and Seward townships. Confirm which county holds a property before relying on any county-level figure, including tax rates and the Will County market snapshot.
Where are current Joliet listings and market data on this site?
Current Joliet listings are on the Joliet listings page of this site, and the Joliet area page gives an overview of the city. Market data for the city is on the Joliet market page, and the Market section of this guide links the Will County snapshot.
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