Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “City of Stone,” or just by its name, Joliet, is a great area to move to in Illinois. This Midwest city is known for many things, including its tourist attractions, like the Rialto Square Theatre, the Joliet Slammers baseball team, the Chicagoland Speedway, and the Hollywood Casino.
As more people move to Joliet, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $250,000 and the average sale price per square foot in Joliet is $150. And the average rent price for a 2-bedroom apartment in Joliet is $1,195.
If those numbers are out of your budget, don’t worry. We’ve collected the 9 best affordable Joliet suburbs to consider moving to. And the best part is that they’re all less than 40 minutes away from the city center. You’ll still be close enough to Joliet to explore the city’s great neighborhoods without the price of living there.
#1: Richton Park
Median home price: $160,000
Average sale price per square foot: $116
Driving distance from Joliet: 35 minutes
Richton Park, IL homes for sale
Richton Park, IL apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $160,000, Richton Park takes the number one spot on our list of affordable Joliet suburbs. About a 35-minute drive from downtown Joliet, Richton Park is home to roughly 12,800 people. Living in Richton Park, you can explore everything that makes this suburb has to offer.
#2: Ingalls Park
Median home price: $173,000
Average sale price per square foot: $162
Driving distance from Joliet: 10 minutes
Ingalls Park, IL homes for sale
Ingalls Park, IL apartments for rent
Ingalls Park is just a little more expensive than Richton Park. Only 10 minutes from the city center, you can visit the Joliet Area Historical Museum in no time. When living in this suburb of 3,460 people, you can also spend the day checking out the charming downtown.
#3: University Park
Median home price: $197,500
Average sale price per square foot: $66
Driving distance from Joliet: 40 minutes
University Park, IL homes for sale
University Park, IL apartments for rent
40 minutes outside of the city, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of University Park. Even with a population of about 7,100, there are plenty of fun things to do in University Park. If you find yourself moving to the third most affordable suburb, make sure to explore Pine Lake Park.
#4: Wilmington
Median home price: $218,500
Average sale price per square foot: $138
Driving distance from Joliet: 25 minutes
Wilmington, IL homes for sale
Wilmington, IL apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than University Park is the suburb of Wilmington. There are several top attractions you may want to check out in this Joliet suburb. Make sure to visit South Island Park and stop by the Gemini Giant.
#5: Matteson
Median home price: $220,000
Average sale price per square foot: $129
Driving distance from Joliet: 30 minutes
Matteson, IL homes for sale
Matteson, IL apartments for rent
About a 30-minute drive into the city, consider adding Matteson to your list of Joliet suburbs to consider living in. Home to 19,000 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Joliet without paying the price for a home in the city. In Matteson, you can explore the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Old Plank Road Prairie Nature Preserve.
#6: Crest Hill
Median home price: $241,500
Average sale price per square foot: $163
Driving distance from Joliet: 8 minutes
Crest Hill, IL homes for sale
Crest Hill, IL apartments for rent
Sixth on the list is another well-known Joliet suburb is Crest Hill. Home to roughly 20,500 people, Crest Hill is a great suburb to consider renting or buying a home in. Whether you check out Prairie Bluff Preserve and explore the trails at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve or grab a coffee at a local café, there are many cool things to do and see in this suburb.
#7: Romeoville
Median home price: $245,000
Average sale price per square foot: $155
Driving distance from Joliet: 20 minutes
Romeoville, IL homes for sale
Romeoville, IL apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable Joliet suburbs is Romeoville, which is only a 20-minute drive into downtown. With a population of nearly 39,900, living in Romeoville is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Joliet. Don’t miss checking out the Heritage Falls Water Park during the summer, visiting Isle a la Cache Museum, and exploring the O’Hara Woods Preserve once living here.
#8: Elwood
Median home price: $327,575
Average sale price per square foot: $145
Driving distance from Joliet: 15 minutes
Elwood, IL homes for sale
Elwood, IL apartments for rent
If you’ve been living in Joliet for some time, you might know the suburb of Elwood. About 2,200 people reside in Elwood, so you’ll have a fraction of Joliet’s population while remaining only 15 minutes from the city. Once moving to Elwood, you’ll want to visit the Children’s Garden and see the scenery.
#9: Channahon
Median home price: $339,900
Average sale price per square foot: $146
Driving distance from Joliet: 20 minutes
Channahon, IL homes for sale
Channahon, IL apartments for rent
Finishing off our list of affordable suburbs near Joliet, IL, is none other than Channahon. Just about 20 minutes away from the city center, you may just want to consider relocating to Channahon. Close to 13,400 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find plenty to do in Channahon. Fun activities in Channahon include exploring Channahon State Park and spending the afternoon at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Joliet and under a 40-minute drive from downtown Joliet. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.