Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
11
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,180 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($233,800 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,799)
38% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $6,180/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$6,180
$91,151 vs $84,971/yr
Jersey City
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
38% lower
350.0 vs 561.6 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$266k less
$233,800 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $233,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $84,971 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 16.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 12 and Joliet wins 11. 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 Jersey City to Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $233,800 median home), income ($91,151 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Joliet, IL are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.