Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
13
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Median income trails Joliet by $18,596/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
28% less violent crime than Glendale
Homes cost $76k less ($233,800 vs $310,000)
Households earn $18,596 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,268)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$18,596
$84,971 vs $66,375/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
28% lower
350.0 vs 488.4 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$76k less
$233,800 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Joliet wins 13. 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 Glendale to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $233,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Joliet, IL are about 1,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.