Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Joliet
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($233,800 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,047)
30% less violent crime than Fairfield
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $13,886/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$13,886
$98,857 vs $84,971/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
30% lower
350.0 vs 498.0 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$312k less
$233,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $233,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.