Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Joliet
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,074 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Joliet
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($233,800 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $641/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,815)
17% less violent crime than Carson
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $18,074/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$18,074
$103,045 vs $84,971/yr
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
17% lower
350.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$382k less
$233,800 vs $616,000
Joliet
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Joliet
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.