Glen Ellyn receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Glen Ellyn
Joliet
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 41%
vs34 · Bottom 10%
Growth
59 · Top 34%
vs41 · Bottom 34%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs59 · Bottom 12%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 22%
vs83 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 31%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
80 · Top 14%
vs35 · Bottom 29%
Access
96 · Top 31%
vs84 · Bottom 27%
Economic stability
71 · Top 27%
vs65 · Top 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Glen Ellyn | Joliet | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,390 | 150,445 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $140,938 | $92,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,079 | $36,812 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,073/sq mi | 2,270/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $544,000 | $265,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,433 | $1,276 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.3% | 73.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.2% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 11.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 58 | 312 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 205.3% | -43.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 15°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 33.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 31.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.8 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 52 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.43 | 14.85 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.2% | 15.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 50.0% | 20.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 27.8% | 65.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
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Glen Ellyn
74
Your Score
70
Area Score
Joliet
63
Your Score
59
Area Score
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Full profiles: Glen Ellyn, IL · Joliet, IL · How this is calculated: methodology