Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Median income trails Joliet by $21,970/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fresno
Homes cost $88k less ($233,800 vs $321,800)
Households earn $21,970 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$21,970
$84,971 vs $63,001/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
52% lower
350.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$88k less
$233,800 vs $321,800
Joliet
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 9 and Joliet wins 14. 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 Fresno to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($63,001 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,717 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.