Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
13
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($202,900 vs $233,800)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $26,622/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $26,622 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$31k less
$202,900 vs $233,800
Baltimore
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 83.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.7 on the COL index
Joliet
Median Income
$26,622
$84,971 vs $58,349/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
78% lower
350.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 10 and Joliet wins 13. 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 Baltimore to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $233,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Joliet, IL are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.