Joliet vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Joliet
Medford
The Verdict
Joliet is 10.4% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Joliet would need approximately $83,684 in Medford to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Joliet has the same purchasing power as $83,684 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $67,217 in Joliet.
Living in Joliet vs Medford
Housing Costs
Joliet's housing index of 85 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $406,000. The $131,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,325/mo in Joliet compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Joliet and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Joliet vs $513/month in Medford. Joliet offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Joliet and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Joliet vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Joliet and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $88,000 in Joliet and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $92,632 and $69,057 respectively. Joliet residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,053/month to housing in Joliet vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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