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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Chicago, IL vs Joliet, IL

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Chicago spends 85.0% more per capita than Joliet ($15,877/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Joliet, IL
Pop. 150,221
D
40/100
Budget Balance37
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Joliet
Total Spending
$94.0B
$2.8B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$18,675
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$2.0B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$13,072
Total Debt
$2.7B
$639.9M
Debt / Capita
$977
$4,260
Population
2,721,914
150,221
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Joliet$208
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Joliet$165
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Joliet$459
Health
Chicago$426
Joliet$450

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoJoliet
Property Tax
$26
$0
Sales Tax
$74
$323
Income Tax
$229
$1,006
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$12,066
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$2,156
Other
$3,463
$3,429

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoJoliet
Fire Protection
$10,754
$208
Highways & Roads
$930
$165
Public Welfare
$1,858
$2,118
Health
$426
$450
Hospitals
$1,444
$485
Parks & Recreation
$122
$459
Housing
$6,520
$3,292
Sewerage
$129
$94
Utilities
$2,983
$3,400
Other
$9,385
$8,005
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
D
Joliet, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 40/100
Below average fiscal health

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