Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
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.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,400 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($233,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1086/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,260)
27% less violent crime than Hayward
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $20,400/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$20,400
$105,371 vs $84,971/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Joliet
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
27% lower
350.0 vs 477.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$542k less
$233,800 vs $775,700
Joliet
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 40.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Hayward 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 Hayward to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $233,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Joliet, IL are about 1,816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.