Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($233,800 vs $461,500)
25% less violent crime than Austin
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$1,585
$86,556 vs $84,971/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Violent Crime
25% lower
350.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$228k less
$233,800 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Austin is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Joliet wins 9. 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 Austin to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $233,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Joliet, IL are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.