Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Costa Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Joliet
Illinois
11
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,010 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $726k less ($233,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1094/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,268)
53% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $20,010/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$20,010
$104,981 vs $84,971/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.0 vs 737.6 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$726k less
$233,800 vs $959,800
Joliet
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, 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 | $959,800⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa'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, Costa Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 12 and Joliet wins 11. 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 Costa Mesa to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($104,981 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.