Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $230/mo less ($944 vs $1,174)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $28,090/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $28,090 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Homes cost $58k less ($233,800 vs $291,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$28,090
$84,971 vs $56,881/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
17% lower
350.0 vs 423.7 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$58k less
$233,800 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ 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 | 112⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $233,800 median home), income ($56,881 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Joliet, IL are about 496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.