Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 18 of 23 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Joliet
Illinois
18
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $15,243/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($233,800 vs $489,400)
72% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,464)
Households earn $15,243 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$15,243
$84,971 vs $69,728/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
72% lower
350.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$256k less
$233,800 vs $489,400
Joliet
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Joliet
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, 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 | $489,400⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 18 of 23 categories. Compton wins 5 and Joliet wins 18. 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 Compton to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $233,800 median home), income ($69,728 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.