Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($86,200 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($830 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $43,528/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $43,528 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 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 10% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$148k less
$86,200 vs $233,800
Dayton
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$43,528
$84,971 vs $41,443/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
74% lower
350.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $233,800 median home), income ($41,443 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Joliet, IL are about 239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.