Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ 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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $281/mo less ($893 vs $1,174)
Homes cost $42k less ($192,000 vs $233,800)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $35,780/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $35,780 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cincinnati
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$42k less
$192,000 vs $233,800
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$35,780
$84,971 vs $49,191/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
59% lower
350.0 vs 845.6 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Joliet, IL are about 253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.