Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
9% less violent crime than Joliet
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Median income trails Joliet by $23,490/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($233,800 vs $406,000)
Households earn $23,490 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,269)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Violent Crime
9% lower
317.9 vs 350.0 per 100k
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$23,490
$84,971 vs $61,481/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$172k less
$233,800 vs $406,000
Joliet
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 12 and Joliet wins 11. 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 Eugene to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($61,481 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Joliet, IL are about 1,768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.