Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Aurora
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($233,800 vs $409,700)
63% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,651)
Households earn $6,286 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$6,286
$84,971 vs $78,685/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
63% lower
350.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$176k less
$233,800 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Aurora wins 11 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 Aurora to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $233,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Joliet, IL are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.