Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
12
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Joliet
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $13,927/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,421)
Households earn $13,927 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Violent Crime
34% lower
232.7 vs 350.0 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$13,927
$84,971 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland 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 Garland to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Joliet, IL are about 755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.