Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 16 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Joliet
Illinois
16
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 Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Joliet by $25,042/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($233,800 vs $597,200)
Households earn $25,042 more per year on average
Rent averages $431/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,605)
17% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$25,042
$84,971 vs $59,929/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
17% lower
350.0 vs 423.2 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$363k less
$233,800 vs $597,200
Joliet
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 16 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 7 and Joliet wins 16. 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 Monte to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $233,800 median home), income ($59,929 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.