Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $704k less ($233,800 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1076/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,250)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $50,637/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Kirkland, WA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Joliet
Households earn $50,637 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$704k less
$233,800 vs $937,700
Joliet
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$50,637
$135,608 vs $84,971/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
83% lower
60.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 62.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 9 and Kirkland 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 Joliet to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $937,700 median home), income ($84,971 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Kirkland, WA are about 1,714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.