Is Joliet cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Joliet is $1,781 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $84,971 in Joliet compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Joliet or Denver?

Joliet is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Joliet or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Joliet and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Joliet, IL vs Denver, CO

Joliet, IL versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,781 a month in Joliet and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $84,971 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Joliet takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Joliet leads by 40% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Joliet can feel further apart than Joliet and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Joliet and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Joliet report Full Denver report

Joliet, IL

Rent: $1,781/mo
Median income: $84,971
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

15% cheaper

Joliet rent is 15% cheaper than Denver

Joliet

Winner

$1,781/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,781 a month in Joliet versus $2,089 in Denver, so Joliet is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,696 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Joliet still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

1% higher

Denver's median income is 1% higher than Joliet

Joliet

$84,971

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $84,971 in Joliet, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Denver — about $882 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

37% lower crime

Joliet's crime index is 37% lower than Denver

Joliet

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Joliet's crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Joliet. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Joliet is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Joliet and Denver are about even on school scores.

Joliet

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Joliet, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

40% more comfortable

Joliet weather is 40% more comfortable than Denver

Joliet

Winner

69°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Joliet scores 40% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Joliet and 82°F in Denver. Joliet reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Joliet is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Joliet

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Joliet is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,781 a month. Choose Joliet if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Joliet if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 40%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Joliet is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Joliet is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Denver (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Joliet report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Joliet vs Denver, called

If weather is your priority, Joliet is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Joliet offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Joliet vs Denver FAQ

Is Joliet cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Joliet is $1,781 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 15% cheaper. Median household income is $84,971 in Joliet compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Joliet or Denver?: Joliet is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Joliet or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Joliet and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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