Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Joliet
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($198,900 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $43,130/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 6.2%)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $43,130 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$35k less
$198,900 vs $233,800
Joliet
Median Income
$43,130
$84,971 vs $41,841/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
32% lower
350.0 vs 515.8 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 8 and Joliet wins 15. 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 Hartford to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $233,800 median home), income ($41,841 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Joliet, IL are about 798 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.