Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $24,297 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Joliet
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($233,800 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $24,297/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$24,297
$109,268 vs $84,971/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Joliet
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$160k less
$233,800 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 11 and Joliet wins 9. 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 Germantown to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $233,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Joliet, IL are about 595 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.