Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $25,613/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $25,613 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Clearwater
Homes cost $54k less ($233,800 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,389)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$25,613
$84,971 vs $59,358/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
12% lower
350.0 vs 395.5 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$54k less
$233,800 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, 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 | $287,900 | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater'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, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 11 and Joliet wins 12. 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 Clearwater to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $233,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Joliet, IL are about 983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.