Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
12
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($66,700 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($989 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $47,210/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $47,210 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.5 pts lower (6.2%)
80% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Detroit
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Detroit
Median Home Value
$167k less
$66,700 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$47,210
$84,971 vs $37,761/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
80% lower
350.0 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
8.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 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 | 363⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Detroit is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Detroit 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 Detroit to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $233,800 median home), income ($37,761 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Joliet, IL are about 266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.