Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fayetteville
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($158,500 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $31,547/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $31,547 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$75k less
$158,500 vs $233,800
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$31,547
$84,971 vs $53,424/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
47% lower
350.0 vs 660.2 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fayetteville wins 11 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 Fayetteville to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $233,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Joliet, IL are about 667 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.