Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Joliet
Illinois
15
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) 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 $445k less ($233,800 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $640/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,814)
24% less violent crime than Downey
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$735
$84,971 vs $84,236/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
24% lower
350.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$445k less
$233,800 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 15 of 23 categories. Downey wins 8 and Joliet wins 15. 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 Downey to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.