Moving to or from Joliet?
Chicago's major southwestern suburb and Will County seat — featured in 'The Blues Brothers' as 'Joliet' Jake Blues' prison town, now one of the Midwest's largest logistics and distribution hubs with the historic Rialto Square Theatre and Chicagoland Speedway nearby.
- 150,000 City population
- 9,500,000 Metro area
- 1834 Founded
- Chicago Southwest Suburbs / Will County Region
Why people move to Joliet.
- Being the setting of 'The Blues Brothers' (1980) as 'Joliet' Jake Blues' prison town
- Old Joliet Prison — an 1858 Gothic limestone prison now open for public tours
- The Rialto Square Theatre — a restored 1926 ornate movie palace called 'The Jewel of Joliet'
- Being one of the Midwest's largest logistics and distribution hubs along I-80 and I-55
- Chicagoland Speedway — hosting NASCAR Cup Series races
- Harrah's Joliet and Hollywood Casino Joliet
Joliet's historic Old Joliet Prison — featured in the opening scene of 'The Blues Brothers' (1980) where 'Joliet' Jake Blues is released — is now open for public tours. The 1858 Gothic limestone prison operated until 2002 and remains one of the most recognizable cinematic prisons in American film. The Rialto Square Theatre downtown is often called the 'Jewel of Joliet' and is one of the most ornate 1920s movie palaces in the Midwest.
Where people live in Joliet.
A quick guide to Joliet's most moved-to neighborhoods.
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Downtown
Revitalized historic core with Rialto Square, restaurants, and government buildings
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West Side
Established residential with mix of older and newer homes
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Cathedral Area
Historic neighborhood with preserved mansions and Victorian architecture
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East Side
Older residential with diverse community
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Shorewood (adjacent)
Affluent neighboring village with upscale homes
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Plainfield (adjacent)
Rapidly growing suburb with newer construction
Where people spend their time in Joliet.
- Rialto Square Theatre Downtown
- Old Joliet Prison tours Central Joliet
- Chicagoland Speedway Elwood
- Joliet Area Historical Museum Downtown
- Harrah's Joliet Downtown
- Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (nearby Elwood) Elwood
Planning a Joliet move.
- Joliet's logistics industry drives heavy truck traffic on I-80 and I-55; plan moving-truck routes accordingly
- Metra Rock Island District commuter rail serves Joliet with direct service to Chicago LaSalle Street
- Winter brings heavy snow and ice; plan weather-buffer days November-March
- Property taxes are high (typical of Illinois); factor into total housing cost
Moving in Joliet: FAQ.
How 'Blues Brothers' is Joliet really?
The film's opening scene at Joliet Prison is iconic, and locals embrace the connection. Old Joliet Prison now offers public tours that include the film location. Downtown has some Blues Brothers-themed imagery. Beyond the film, Joliet has a distinct blue-collar character and history that predates and outlasts the movie — but for popular culture, 'Joliet' is indelibly linked to Jake Blues.
Is Joliet a logistics industry hub?
Yes — one of the largest in North America. The intersection of I-80 and I-55 near Joliet (along with the CenterPoint Intermodal Center and BNSF Logistics Park Chicago in nearby Elwood) handles massive volumes of containerized freight from West Coast ports moving east. Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other retailers have major distribution centers. Thousands of logistics and trucking jobs anchor Will County's economy.
How's the Chicago commute?
Manageable. Metra Rock Island District commuter rail from Joliet Union Station to Chicago LaSalle Street takes about 60 minutes. Driving to downtown Chicago is 45-75 minutes depending on time of day. Many Joliet residents commute daily via Metra; others work locally in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and government.
Is Joliet affordable compared to other Chicago suburbs?
Meaningfully. Joliet's median home prices run well below Naperville, Aurora, or Oak Park, and offer strong value for buyers willing to accept a working-class character and longer commute. The trade-off is lower-rated schools in some districts, higher property taxes (Illinois-wide issue), and less walkable neighborhood character than some inner-ring suburbs. Research specific neighborhoods and school feeders carefully.
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