Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 15 of 22 categories
Joliet
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,008 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Kenosha, WI
Pros
18% less violent crime than Joliet
Homes cost $39k less ($194,400 vs $233,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,174)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $20,008/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$20,008
$84,971 vs $64,963/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Kenosha
Violent Crime
18% lower
285.7 vs 350.0 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$39k less
$194,400 vs $233,800
Kenosha
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 31.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 15 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 7 and Kenosha 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 Joliet to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $194,400 median home), income ($84,971 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Kenosha, WI are about 75 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.