Joliet vs Bellevue: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Joliet, IL and Bellevue, WA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricJoliet, ILBellevue, WA
Population150,221150,606
Median household income$84,971$149,551
Median home value$233,800$1,139,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,174$2,422

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Joliet, IL and Bellevue, WA comes down to what you value most. Joliet has the lower median home value, and Joliet has the lower median rent.

Bellevue has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Joliet or Bellevue?
By median home value, Joliet is the cheaper of the two ($233,800 vs $1,139,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Joliet or Bellevue?
Median household income is $84,971 in Joliet versus $149,551 in Bellevue, per the US Census Bureau.

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