Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 High Point leads 13 of 22 categories
High Point
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
Joliet
Illinois
9
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($196,500 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $144/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 31°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $26,389/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $26,389 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than High Point
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than High Point
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$37k less
$196,500 vs $233,800
High Point
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$26,389
$84,971 vs $58,582/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
23% lower
350.0 vs 454.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 150,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
High Point is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, High Point leads 13 of 22 categories. High Point wins 13 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 High Point to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $233,800 median home), income ($58,582 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Joliet, IL are about 582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.