Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Peoria compared to Joliet? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Peoria | Metric | Joliet | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Cost of Living Index | 92 | +9.5% |
| $155,000 | Median Home Price | $240,000 | +54.8% |
| $800 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | +56.3% |
| $57,800 | Median Household Income | $68,500 | +18.5% |
| 2.2% | Property Tax Rate | 2.4% | +9.1% |
| 5.0% | Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | -12.0% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 34 min | +70.0% |
| 37.8 | Median Age | 33.2 | -12.2% |
| 370,000 | Metro Population | 150,000 | -59.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Peoria costs $1,113/month (PITI) compared to $1,764/month in Joliet — a difference of $651/month or $7,812/year. The price-to-income ratio is 2.7x in Peoria versus 3.5x in Joliet, suggesting Peoria is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 3.6 years to save a down payment in Peoria compared to 4.7 years in Joliet.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Peoria | Joliet |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $57,800 | $68,500 |
| State Income Tax | $2,720 | $3,250 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,807 | $6,519 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,422 | $5,240 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,410/yr | $5,760/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $11,949 (20.7%) | $15,009 (21.9%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $45,851 | $53,491 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $11,949 in Peoria (20.7% effective) versus $15,009 in Joliet (21.9% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $45,851 in Peoria and $53,491 in Joliet. Property taxes add $3,410/year on the median Peoria home versus $5,760/year in Joliet.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $57,800 in Peoria (COL 84) and relocate to Joliet (COL 92), you would need $63,305 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $5,505 to maintain the same standard of living in Joliet.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Peoria is 20 minutes versus 34 minutes in Joliet, a difference of 14 minutes each way. Joliet's lower unemployment rate of 4.4% versus 5.0% suggests a stronger job market. Peoria skews slightly older with a median age of 37.8 vs 33.2 in Joliet.
Joliet is 9.5% more expensive than Peoria overall. Joliet has a cost of living index of 92 compared to 84 for Peoria (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $240,000 in Joliet vs $155,000 in Peoria.
The median home price in Joliet is $240,000, which is $85,000 more than Peoria's median of $155,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,250/month in Joliet vs $800/month in Peoria, a difference of $450/month or $5,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $57,800 salary in Peoria is equivalent to $63,305 in Joliet. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Peoria's COL index of 84 vs Joliet's 92. Conversely, $68,500 in Joliet equals $62,543 in Peoria.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $11,949 (20.7% effective rate) in Peoria vs $15,009 (21.9% effective rate) in Joliet. Property taxes on the median home are $3,410/year in Peoria (2.2% rate) vs $5,760/year in Joliet (2.4% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Illinois and 6.3% in Illinois.
Peoria median household income: $57,800/yr. Joliet median household income: $68,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $800 in Peoria vs $1,250 in Joliet. Annualized that is $9,600 vs $15,000.
Peoria offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 92), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Joliet typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Peoria and Joliet numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Peoria vs Joliet cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .