Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
13
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($87,400 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($851 vs $1,174)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $47,700/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $47,700 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cleveland
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$146k less
$87,400 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$47,700
$84,971 vs $37,271/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
78% lower
350.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Cleveland 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 Cleveland to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Joliet, IL are about 335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.