Joliet, IL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Joliet, IL Crime & Safety (2026)

Is Joliet, IL safe?

Joliet earns an overall crime grade of C (Moderate) based on analysis of 21 neighborhoods citywide. The encouraging news: 57% of neighborhoods fall into the A or B safety tier, meaning more than half the city is considered relatively safe. Specifically, 14.3% of neighborhoods hold a Grade A rating and 42.9% hold a Grade B — a combined majority that includes well-regarded areas like Midland Avenue West (A), Emerald Lawns (A-), Twin Oaks (A-), and Cathedral (B). On the other end, 28.6% of neighborhoods carry a D grade — including Evergreen Terrace, South Side, and City Center — and no neighborhood received an F. Joliet is not uniformly dangerous, but safety varies meaningfully by location.

What is the crime rate in Joliet, IL?

Joliet's city-wide safety rating is Moderate (C) across all 21 analyzed neighborhoods. Breaking that down: 14.3% of neighborhoods rate A, 42.9% rate B, 14.3% rate C, and 28.6% rate D — with zero neighborhoods receiving an F grade. That D-tier group includes areas like Evergreen Terrace (D-), South Side (D-), Richard's Grove (D), River Bluff (D), and City Center (D), which pull the city-wide average down from what would otherwise be a predominantly B-range city. Residents in the B+ neighborhoods — such as Reedswood, North East, Mt. Carmel, and Ridgewood — experience meaningfully lower crime exposure than those in the D-tier areas.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Joliet, IL?

Of the 21 neighborhoods analyzed, three earned top-tier Grade A ratings (14.3% of all neighborhoods): Midland Avenue West (A) with a median household income of $100,614 and a population of 930; Emerald Lawns (A-) with a median income of $75,494 and 1,244 residents; and Twin Oaks (A-) with a median income of $99,096 and a population of 743. Nine additional neighborhoods — 42.9% of the total — earned Grade B ratings. The B+ tier includes Reedswood (pop. 3,837; income $74,574), North East (pop. 2,123; income $40,400), Mt. Carmel (pop. 5,406; income $39,129), and Ridgewood (pop. 3,423; income $42,905). Notably, Mt. Carmel and North East demonstrate that safer neighborhoods are not exclusively high-income — both score B+ despite incomes well below the city median of $72,871.

Which neighborhoods in Joliet have the highest crime?

Five neighborhoods landed in the D grade tier, accounting for 28.6% of all analyzed areas. The two lowest-rated are Evergreen Terrace (D-) and South Side (D-), followed by Richard's Grove (D), City Center (D), and River Bluff (D). Importantly, no Joliet neighborhood received an F grade, which means even the highest-crime areas fall short of the most severe classification. Those researching housing or planning visits should consult the interactive Joliet crime map to view current incident concentrations in these specific areas before making decisions.

Is Joliet a good place to live in 2026?

For many residents, yes — with important caveats tied to neighborhood selection. Joliet's population of 147,323 is supported by a median household income of $72,871 and a median home value of just $192,695, making it one of the more affordable mid-size cities in the Chicago metro area. The poverty rate of 10.5% and unemployment rate of 5.9% are moderate but not alarming by national standards. Median rent of $1,077 is well below regional averages. The key variable is location within the city: the 57% of neighborhoods graded A or B offer genuinely solid safety profiles, while the 29% graded D present real challenges. Families prioritizing safety should focus their search on neighborhoods like Midland Avenue West, Twin Oaks, Cathedral, or SENO, all of which combine livability with above-average safety grades.

How does Joliet's safety compare across income levels?

Joliet's neighborhood data reveals a nuanced relationship between income and safety. The three Grade A neighborhoods — Midland Avenue West ($100,614), Twin Oaks ($99,096), and Emerald Lawns ($75,494) — do skew higher-income. However, several B+ neighborhoods like Mt. Carmel ($39,129), North East ($40,400), and Ridgewood ($42,905) achieve strong safety grades despite incomes significantly below the city median of $72,871. This suggests that income alone does not determine neighborhood safety in Joliet, and budget-conscious residents can find B-rated areas without paying a premium. Conversely, Garnsey (B) and Cathedral (B) — with incomes of $71,047 and $74,425 respectively — show that mid-income neighborhoods can also maintain solid safety standings.