Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 17 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Joliet
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
36% less violent crime than Joliet
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Broken Arrow
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
36% lower
223.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$23k less
$210,800 vs $233,800
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$2,424
$84,971 vs $82,547/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 17 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 17 and Joliet wins 6. 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 Broken Arrow to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($82,547 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Joliet, IL are about 559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.