Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 13 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 31°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $34,816/yr
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $34,816 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Baton Rouge
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$16k less
$217,700 vs $233,800
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$34,816
$84,971 vs $50,155/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
66% lower
350.0 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 13 and Joliet wins 10. 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 Baton Rouge to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $233,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Joliet, IL are about 783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.