Charleston WV vs Joliet IL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Charleston, WV
West Virginia · Population: 47,918
- Median HH Income$64,512
- Median Home Price$164,532
- Unemployment6.3%
- Bachelor's+44.1%
Joliet, IL
Illinois · Population: 149,785
- Median HH Income$88,026
- Median Home Price$264,637
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+25.0%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Charleston
47,918
Joliet
149,785
Joliet +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Charleston
N/A
Joliet
N/A
Median Age
Charleston
42.6
Joliet
35.3
Joliet +
Foreign Born
Charleston
3.9%
Joliet
15.2%
Joliet +
White
Charleston
76.6%
Charleston +
Joliet
52.7%
Black
Charleston
11.8%
Joliet
17.0%
Joliet +
Asian
Charleston
2.7%
Charleston +
Joliet
2.1%
Hispanic
Charleston
1.9%
Joliet
34.7%
Joliet +
Spanish at Home
Charleston
N/A
Joliet
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,918 | 149,785 | Joliet + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 35.3 | Joliet + |
| Foreign Born | 3.9% | 15.2% | Joliet + |
| White | 76.6% | 52.7% | Charleston + |
| Black | 11.8% | 17.0% | Joliet + |
| Asian | 2.7% | 2.1% | Charleston + |
| Hispanic | 1.9% | 34.7% | Joliet + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Charleston
$64,512
Joliet
$88,026
Joliet +
Per Capita Income
Charleston
$45,967
Charleston +
Joliet
$35,820
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Charleston
$50,163
Joliet
$68,110
Joliet +
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
6.3%
Joliet
5.8%
Joliet +
Poverty Rate
Charleston
16.5%
Joliet
11.0%
Joliet +
Bachelor's Degree+
Charleston
44.1%
Charleston +
Joliet
25.0%
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $64,512 | $88,026 | Joliet + |
| Per Capita Income | $45,967 | $35,820 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $50,163 | $68,110 | Joliet + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 5.8% | Joliet + |
| Poverty Rate | 16.5% | 11.0% | Joliet + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 44.1% | 25.0% | Charleston + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Charleston
$164,532
Charleston +
Joliet
$264,637
Homeownership Rate
Charleston
62.7%
Joliet
73.1%
Joliet +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $164,532 | $264,637 | Charleston + |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 73.1% | Joliet + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
398
Joliet
344
Joliet +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
1999
Joliet
1842
Joliet +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 344 | Joliet + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1842 | Joliet + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
40.2%
Charleston +
Joliet
41.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
15.6%
Joliet
11.7%
Joliet +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Charleston
20.2%
Joliet
17.7%
Joliet +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Charleston
7.4%
Charleston +
Joliet
13.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Charleston
14.3%
Charleston +
Joliet
19.1%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Charleston
17.7%
Joliet
14.0%
Joliet +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 40.2% | 41.9% | Charleston + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 15.6% | 11.7% | Joliet + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.2% | 17.7% | Joliet + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.4% | 13.9% | Charleston + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.3% | 19.1% | Charleston + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 17.7% | 14.0% | Joliet + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
53.9°F
Joliet
50.6°F
Joliet +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
46.2 in
Joliet
36.8 in
Joliet +
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.9°F | 50.6°F | Joliet + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.2 in | 36.8 in | Joliet + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Charleston
9.3 µg/m³
Charleston +
Joliet
9.4 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Charleston
55.0%
Joliet
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | Charleston + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Charleston
19.2 min
Charleston +
Joliet
31.7 min
| Metric | Charleston, WV | Joliet, IL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.2 min | 31.7 min | Charleston + |
Which City is Right for You?
Joliet leads in median household income at $88,026, while charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $164,532. On public safety, Joliet is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Charleston. Joliet has a lower unemployment rate at 5.8%, and Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 40.2%.
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