Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Beaumont leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($150,400 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $182/mo less ($992 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $31,226/yr
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Beaumont
Households earn $31,226 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Beaumont
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$83k less
$150,400 vs $233,800
Beaumont
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Beaumont
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$31,226
$84,971 vs $53,745/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
69% lower
350.0 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaumont 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 Beaumont to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($53,745 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Joliet, IL are about 858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.