Last Updated on: 2nd November 2023, 07:55 pm
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall counties in the state of Illinois, 35 miles southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County, and as of the 2020 Census, the city boasted a population of over 150,000 people. Joliet’s population has been skyrocketing since the early 1980s, with much of the working class commuting to Chicago every day. The housing market has been seeing a bit of a rebound lately, but it remains exceptionally strong with plenty on the market at reasonable rates, and most sell rather quickly – especially the safer, more upscale parts of Joliet. While the Chicago suburb of Joliet has some neighborhoods that are better than others, even the worst of Joliet should be considered pretty safe, especially compared to the other cities closer to Chicago. As is the case with much of the United States, the lower the cost of living, the more crime, and the higher the cost of living, the less crime.
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Understanding the Joliet Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, crime rates can be really confusing. Typically they’re pulled from FBI databases after the data has been collected and analyzed by the Bureau. They get it from local police departments, precincts, and even some emergency service systems. The FBI has people that internally separate the crime data into two categories; That’s it! One for violent crimes and one for non-violent crimes like break-ins and burglary. Most non-violent crimes end up being property-related crimes, and almost everything else gets put into the violent crime bucket. Please keep that in mind because you know all too well that there should be a variety of identifiers, and not every crime can reasonably be sorted into one of two buckets.
It’s not rare for crime rates to fluctuate, and you should recognize they don’t always accurately represent the levels of criminal activity in a given city.
- Not everything is taken into crime rate consideration. Some offenses are downright ignored.
- Most offenses aren’t uniformly defined. It can differ based on reporting body to reporting body and interpreter to interpreter.
- Rates don’t identify special and unique situations city to city, so the validity of the crime rate might not be quite right.
- All neighborhoods are dumped into one pool. You won’t know which neighborhoods are safe and which are crime filled based on the crime rates alone.
- Offenses are based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system, which has since been replaced so if we’re being honest, the date you’re reviewing should all be taken with a grain of salt anyway.
The FBI discourages using crime rates and statistics to compare cities, metro areas, and states. Interesting that they created this system, but they discourage people from using it for decision making. You’ll want to do your own research by speaking to locals within each neighborhood that you are considering moving to.
What Is the Joliet, IL Crime Rate?
Joliet’s crime rate is 326 per 100,000 people, which is really good compared to what it was just 10 years ago. It’s clear that local police efforts are keeping crime from Chicago away from spilling into the streets of Joliet. Most of the reported crimes appear to be property crimes and the further you get from Chicago, the better and safer the neighborhoods are as there are fewer and fewer crimes reported the more remote you go.
Joliet Crime Map & Crime Reports
Probably the best thing you can use to easily visualize crime hotspots is by using a crime map. Serving as a visual portrayal of the raw data, crime maps help us understand where we should and shouldn’t try to live based on safety statistics alone. You can compare and contrast different maps from well known sites like Crime Grade, Neighborhood Scout, and City-Data to make the best decisions for you, your family, and your business.
Violent Crime in Joliet
In an effort to clear up the muddy waters for you, we’ve done a lot of the research for you. Crime in general has been on a steady decline for the past 20 years in Joliet, which is great. Unfortunately the percentage of violent crimes seems to be up a tiny bit. The percentage of non-violent crimes is way, way down though. We’ve outlined a few key bullet points for you to review and keep in mind moving forward. The following is based on FBI analyzed data from 2019 and early expectation is that they have remained flat since then. The data can be reviewed here on City-Data.com!
- Joliet murder rate per 100k people: 12
- Joliet total homicides in 2019: 18
- Joliet violent crime per 100k people: 219
Property Crime in Joliet
A point of pride to the local police department and joint efforts with the county authorities. The property crime in Joliet and the surrounding small cities is down significantly, including theft. The departments have been working together to try to clean up the streets, actively preventing crime spillover into the smaller cities like Joliet. Property crime is down significantly over the past two decades. Obviously it’s not non-existent but even remotely considering it as a worry will be a waste of your time – especially in the “good” neighborhoods. (Most of Joliet is good!)
Bad/Dangerous/High Crime Areas in Joliet
Some neighborhoods naturally have higher crime rates than others but none of Joliet is something we’d consider to be dangerous. Still, we can pinpoint the higher crime areas for you, where you’ll want to lock doors, lock windows, and increase lighting. They then to be to the northeast, closer to Chicago:
Joliet Neighborhoods with Higher Crime
- City Center – As you would expect, the more urban, the worse the crime rate. Most crimes committed in Joliet tend to be downtown. While there are certainly high end apartments with great views and access to anything you’d want or need, you will also be exposed to more crime of all kinds.
- River Bluffs – Just north of the City Center area, the River Bluffs are known to be where a lot of low income people live. Plenty of slumlord buildings and dilapidated, old storefronts. Not surprising it’s a higher crime area.
- Preston Heights – Heights isn’t that bad, but it’s one of the higher crime spots in the city because of how large it is. With a lot of different income-based housing projects and a large amount of land falling in its boundary, Preston Heights has a higher than average amount of crime in Joliet.
Safest Neighborhoods in Joliet, IL
Unsurprisingly, the safest neighborhoods are those on the outskirts of the city. There are a number of housing developments, upscale apartment complexes, and gated communities that are far from the reach of crime. Police make it a point to patrol these neighborhoods, keeping you, your children, and your property well protected and safe.
Best Joliet Neighborhoods to Live In
- McClintock Acres – Located on the southernmost end of Joliet, McClintock Acres is a new housing development area. You can buy a parcel of land and have your home built just the way you would like in this new neighborhood.
- Aspen Meadows – Specifically built for the upper-middle class. This is a gated community and an ideal place to live and raise a family. According to the website, “Aspen Meadows is a single family home neighborhood built in the late 1990s by Phoenix Developers. Aspen Meadows features 263 homes with floor plans ranging from 1,200 to 2,300 square feet of living space. Aspen Meadows is located in Plainfield, Illinois. There are currently a few homes for sale ranging from $314,500 to $339,900. It is managed by HOA Resources.”
- Cherry Hill – Ideal for those just starting out and those looking to downsize into retirement. The homes in Cherry Hill are mostly single story with a decent yard and are regularly patrolled by the local police. Not much crime to speak of at all.
Joliet Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Joliet, IL
At this point, we’re intimately familiar with Joliet and the surrounding towns. There are three important things everybody needs to do to avoid crime in the Joliet area:
- Use a security system. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best solutions. A new security system can prevent crime before it even begins.
- Get a Dog! Apart from all the awesome benefits that a dog brings to your life, many people use them to alert them of suspicious ongoings. Sometimes having a dog is enough to keep a would-be thief away.
- Choose neighborhoods known for safety. It would be silly to knowingly put yourself or your family in harm’s way. Do the research and figure out what neighborhood is most conducive to your lifestyle and values without sacrificing safety.
Joliet Police Department
Joliet has their own police department, which helps a lot. Many of the smaller towns outside of Chicago have to rely on county and state services which are already spread pretty thin. The Joliet PD has their own website and you can review more statistics there. The Joliet Police Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the State of Illinois. There are currently approximately 260 sworn members, and approximately 110 civilian members of the department. Being so large explains why crime is on the downward slide in Joliet.
Joliet Police Department | 150 W Washington St, Joliet, IL 60432 | (815) 724-3100
Joliet, IL Crime Rate FAQ
Is Joliet Safe?
The entire city is considered to be pretty safe, especially compared to other major cities in the state – certainly when compared to Chicago.
Where are the Safest Joliet Neighborhoods?
Try to stay away from the city center as the more suburbia, the safer. The housing developments and gated communities, both well established and new ones, are best.
Where Can I View Joliet Police Reports?
Unfortunately Joilet police reports are not on the website but the local newspaper publishes them regularly.Our care for customers doesn’t stop at simply providing a Joliet moving service. We want you to feel content with your choice of neighborhood by being safe after we’ve left you. To provide the best possible customer service, we’ve created this guide so that you can feel secure with your Joliet moving decision. Once you’ve made a decision as to what Joliet neighborhood is best for you, give Federal Companies a call at 800-747-4100 or fill out our quick quote form to request your free moving quote today!
