Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 14 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Joliet
Illinois
14
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.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $20,843/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($233,800 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,686)
19% less violent crime than El Cajon
Households earn $20,843 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$20,843
$84,971 vs $64,128/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
19% lower
350.0 vs 434.4 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$360k less
$233,800 vs $593,500
Joliet
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Joliet leads 14 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 8 and Joliet wins 14. 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 El Cajon to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $233,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.