Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Joliet
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $20,541/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,541 more per year on average
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,255)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hampton
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
29% lower
247.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$14k less
$219,800 vs $233,800
Hampton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$20,541
$84,971 vs $64,430/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 14 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 14 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 Hampton to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $233,800 median home), income ($64,430 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Joliet, IL are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.