Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
63% less violent crime than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $13,815/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,570)
Households earn $13,815 more per year on average
Homes cost $33k less ($233,800 vs $266,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
63% lower
131.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$13,815
$84,971 vs $71,156/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$33k less
$233,800 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories. Brandon 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 Brandon to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Joliet, IL are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.