Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $20k less ($213,400 vs $233,800)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $30,235/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $30,235 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$20k less
$213,400 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$30,235
$84,971 vs $54,736/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
57% lower
350.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Albany is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Joliet wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Joliet, IL are about 739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.